You can read the contribution made by Russian anti-war activist Felix here. You can also see the resolution agreed by the Congress on Ukraine reworked after these interventions here, as well as the position of the minority against which Oleksandr was arguing.

Comrades,

It is a great honor to participate in this World Congress of the Fourth International, a historic organization with global reach. I am grateful for this opportunity.

Listening to the discussions, I was struck by their theoretical depth and attention to nuance—something we often lack. Yet, when it comes to my country, I question the need for such an approach when it seems to be used to reconfirm once established truths. “The main enemy is at home”—so we must expose, confront, and fight. Otherwise, how are we different from the bourgeoisie or reformists?

But reality is not so simple. As much as we may despise Zelensky, for us he is not the same as Putin. And every word spoken here we apply to our lived reality. Ukraine is our home —the only place we unequivocally belong. Some call this a bias, methodological nationalism, or overvaluing one of the many organizing patterns. But don’t others here do the same when projecting their own colonial histories, frustrations with Western powers, and struggles – whether for refugee rights or against arms dealers  – onto our fight against occupation?

Ukraine is an inconvenient victim, with the wrong privileged allies. Behind some of the statement proposals, one can almost hear: “Don’t persist. Don’t provoke Putin further. Submit already. We will remember you and gladly come to anniversary to condemn imperialist powers for your destruction.” But submission will not lead where you think it will.

Some things do not require over-explanation. I admire the dedication of comrades to solidarity with Palestine, especially given that it is not at all welcome in the West. But I have not heard prolonged explanations here about how reactionary Hamas is, how it was funded and armed by Iran, how tunnels were built with North Korea’s help, or how continuing resistance leads to deaths and destruction and strengthens religious fundamentalists. Why? Because none of this changes the fundamental truth: Palestinians want to live free from occupation.

So spare us the reductionism, propaganda clichés, and conspiracies. Few here have insider knowledge, but many misunderstand Ukraine’s internal conflicts and misrepresent polling data picking only what fits their theses. What for? Echoing Russia’s talking points? Propaganda is not always about fabricating complete lies – it is about twisting, downplaying, or exaggerating. Words and slogans should be context-specific and purposeful if you really care. If comrades far away in India can grasp this, as I see from their publications, then those in Europe should be able to as well – if they wish.

Don’t blame Ukraine, which should have known its place in this world system, for how our war upsets your agenda. It is not our fault that your governments are hypocritical, nor is it our fault if you cannot hold them accountable when they exploit the situation. Take concrete action instead: nationalize the arms industry, tax windfall profits, or expose neoliberal incompetence in defense. In the end, weapons do not fire themselves at the command of invisible market forces.

Peace can take many forms. The simplest is negative one, that is absence of war, which occupation and capitulation can bring. Trump and Putin are working on such a “peace” behind our backs—dividing our land, resources, and deciding our future. We have seen what Trump offers to Gazans. Is that the peace you fight for? If your country is next on the grand chessboard, will you surrender everything won through generations of labor struggle, everything dear, just to avoid militarization and deaths?

Some claim NATO/EU pressure provoked Russian imperialism, or that refusing Russian demands triggered war. They conclude that it’s a logical culmination of fight over the country between the West and Russia. Would you say the same if Poland, Latvia, Estonia, or Lithuania were attacked? They begged to join NATO to escape Russian influence, and they keep playing with the fire right now. Finland, once a Russian subject, shares a 1,300 km border, now a NATO member too – did they provoke their former masters as well?

We do not know how this ends. Europe is weakened, having neither enough weapons nor soldiers, the US is sliding into fascism, and our resources and will are nearly spent. But like any people, we want to survive and live with dignity. Even in the minority, few deny that without weapons support, we would have fallen – yet they still call shipments “hawkish.” Having weapons is not about militarism; it is about power, agency, and choice.

To the German comrades advocating civil disobedience – when we last had problems with Germany, it was not civil disobedience that did the job. It was war, waged by a bloody Stalinist regime with US lend-lease support, military advisors, and second front.

What some here call solidarity is useless at best. It hints that everything is decided by great powers and resistance is futile, no matter what you do. But if all is predetermined, what is the point of holding this Congress? To wait for an “I told you so” moment? We appreciate advice, but not patronizing lectures on how the world really works. Don’t confine Ukrainians or Russians to powerlessness. We are not born to live and die in Russia’s zone of influence, and Russians are not born to love dictatorship. No poll suggests otherwise.

Calling for desertion in Russia and Ukraine is not the same. Deserting from an occupying force is a duty, as is desire for failure and sabotage. In Ukraine, however, avoiding conscription does not mean people want the country to lose – there are often concrete reasons for this. Withdrawing willingness to fight pressures the government – one of the few available levers. Some changes have already been made, such as extended training periods, eased transfers between units or even a free choice of which company to join. But not everything is possible to address in wartime, of course. Deserters and draft dodgers should never be judged, but calling for this is too much.

Ukrainians fight on two fronts. It is not always clear which will collapse first. As in any battle, analysis and resource planning are crucial, for greatest possible advancement, for smallest possible retreat. Alliances and leverage – both internal and external – matter. Solidarity requires listening. Ukrainians know way more than outsiders, with friends and family in the army, in the rear, and abroad. Volunteers, mobilized soldiers, and draft evaders alike understand the toll; they are sick of corruption and fear mongering. In his own hometown, people hate Zelensky and blame him for the war. They are disappointed, disempowered, and hope those in power will finally agree and end it soon. But none of them want to live under occupation. None call for stopping arms shipments or abandoning Ukraine alone. We all want security.

Russian troops out. No annexations. The freedom to determine our future without external pressure. The right of return. Negotiations under democratic control. These are not just magic spells. They will not materialize on their own. What is the plan of those who say “no penny, no soldier, no gun”? Yippies had one and chanted to make the Pentagon levitate. What would you do?

NB Featured image: Photo with with hand made signs including Stop Russian agression and Stop Putin and Ukranian flags