‘Fire of resistance to imperialism & fascism must flare up’

This statement was prepared by the Ukrainian Marxist organization Borotba (Struggle) and adopted by the participants of Interforum (International Anti-fascist Forum), which was held in Lugansk, capital of the Lugansk People’s Republic, on Feb. 25, 2025. Borotba has been banned in Ukraine since 2014.

Declaration of the Interforum:
International Anti-fascist Forum of Donbass

May 9 marks 80 years since the Great Victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany. Almost a whole century separates us from those events; however, it is precisely now that we see the colossal influence they continue to have on the entire world.  

The Second World War did not begin “just like that.” It did not arise from thin air. It was brought about by a tangle of contradictions in international politics, which they tried to cut through with the help of war.  

The reasons that divided the world into supporters of Nazi ideas and anti-fascists more than 80 years ago exist today. Western corporations and finance capital, for many years, armed Hitler and created a capable army in order to direct it against those from whom they felt threatened: the Soviet Union.  

Today we see a repetition of the world tragedy that occurred in the 1930s-40s. Western imperialism has already begun aggression against those who disagree with the U.S.-centric world order. It is gathering a strike force aimed at the peoples and countries that are trying to pursue independent and sovereign policies: against Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and many others.  

This strike force includes Ukrainian fascists, Israeli Zionists, jihadists from Africa and the Middle East, and Latin American “death squads.” This multifaceted “international” of new fascism, which has already begun its “crusade” against the peoples of the planet, has as its client and sponsor transnational financial capital.  

Today, this “evil international” is changing leadership – instead of the failed neoliberals, it is acquiring harsh, cynical, and aggressive leaders in the form of the new right-wing administration of the USA under Donald Trump and the billionaire Elon Musk, raising his hand in a Nazi salute.  

The new leadership in Washington has already made its claims on the Panama Canal, expressed support for the Argentine neoliberal fascist Javier Milei and European far-rightists, begun threatening Russia with new sanctions and Iran with war, and supported the Israeli genocide in Gaza.  

Key turning point

The aggression of the West against the peoples of the former USSR, especially Russia, which began at the hands of the fascist regime in Kiev in 2014, became the key turning point in the politics of Western imperialism toward militarization, reaction, and preparation for a great war.  

Right here, we are convinced, the fire of resistance to imperialism and the new fascism must also flare up.  

The first sparks of this resistance were the heroic struggle of Donbass against Ukrainian Nazism, continued by Russia’s Special Military Operation. We emphasize that this is not an isolated or regional situation – it is part of the global struggle against the USA, NATO, the European Union, and other forces and organizations of imperialist hegemony. 

The goal of our enemies is the same as it was more than 80 years ago – the capture and subjugation of the markets, natural and human resources of the planet, and the destruction of an alternative to the existing world order, which was represented by the USSR at that time, and now by a number of countries opposing the unipolar U.S.-centered world.  

The rightward turn toward reaction and new fascism, which is currently happening in the West, can only be resisted by a united front of international anti-fascist and anti-imperialist solidarity of peoples. Our Forum is intended to become one of the points of crystallization of this resistance.  

We call on everyone who shares our concerns about the growth of fascist sentiments in society not to remain silent, but to openly and loudly express their position!

We call on everyone on the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory to honor the memory of anti-fascist heroes in all countries, where people took the path of struggle against the brown plague: the heroes of ELAS in Greece, anti-fascists of the People’s Liberation Army of Yugoslavia, participants in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and partisans of the People’s Army in Poland, Garibaldian Brigades and Matteotti Brigades in Italy, comrades of Ernst Thälmann in Germany, thousands of underground fighters of the Resistance in France, Spain, Austria, Romania, and other countries!  

We call to build and strengthen ties with like-minded people today, because tomorrow we will all face a difficult fight, and we need to prepare for it now!  

For international solidarity and joint actions against fascism and imperialism!