History often repeats itself, and those who fail to learn from it are doomed to relive the same mistakes. As someone born in Czechoslovakia and deeply interested in history, I have always been struck by the moments when Central Europe’s fate was decided by others, without its participation. Today, the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Russia over Ukraine’s future evoke an alarming historical parallel: the 1938 Munich Agreement, which had disastrous consequences not only for Czechoslovakia but for all of Central Europe.
The Munich Agreement and Its Consequences
In 1938, the leaders of Germany, Italy, France, and Britain decided the fate of Czechoslovakia without inviting its representatives to the negotiations. The agreement granted Hitler’s Germany control over the Sudetenland, a strategically and economically vital region of Czechoslovakia. Western powers hoped that this concession would satisfy Hitler’s territorial ambitions and prevent a larger war. However, this proved to be a fatal mistake. Czechoslovakia was left defenseless, and by 1939, Nazi Germany had completely annexed the country, demonstrating that appeasement only emboldened aggression.
The Munich Agreement had not only immediate consequences but also long-term repercussions for Central Europe. After World War II, our region fell under the Soviet sphere of influence, and the countries of the Eastern Bloc lived under oppression for decades. Throughout history, we have repeatedly experienced what it means when great powers divide the world according to their own interests, disregarding the sovereignty of smaller nations.
Ukraine and the Repetition of History
Today, more than eighty years after the Munich Agreement, Ukraine finds itself in a similar position. The United States and Russia are holding negotiations concerning Ukraine’s future, yet Ukraine itself has only a limited role in these discussions. Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence are under threat, while the great powers attempt to shape the region’s future based on their own geopolitical interests. Once again, we see Europe—especially Central and Eastern European countries—excluded from negotiations that directly affect them.
The Ukrainian crisis raises a pressing question: Are we making the same mistake as in 1938? Back then, the great powers sacrificed a nation for the illusion of peace, which ultimately led not to stability but to even greater devastation.
1956, 1968, and the Central European Experience
For the countries that lived in the shadow of Soviet influence, the exclusion from international politics is a particularly painful reminder of past betrayals. Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968 are clear examples of how Central European nations have been victims of great power politics. The Hungarian Revolution hoped for Western support but was ultimately crushed by Soviet tanks, while the Prague Spring of 1968—an effort to implement reforms—was brutally suppressed by Warsaw Pact forces, once again proving that our region’s fate was often decided by others.
These historical events remind us that when a nation is excluded from negotiations about its own future, it is never a good sign. Ukraine today faces a similar challenge, and we have every reason to fear that, like the Munich Agreement, the current negotiations will lead to compromises that do not bring peace but rather further instability.
Lessons from the Past: What Can Be Done?
The Munich Memento remains a powerful warning. We cannot allow Ukraine’s fate to be decided without its participation, just as Czechoslovakia was ignored in 1938. Europe must take a much greater role in resolving conflicts on its own continent and cannot allow the United States and Russia to dictate its future.
History teaches us that the voices of small nations cannot be silenced without severe consequences. Today, as Ukraine’s sovereignty and European security are at stake, it is more important than ever to learn from past mistakes.
The Munich Agreement will forever remind us that great power deals over the heads of smaller nations never lead to lasting peace. The only question is whether we will understand this lesson in time—before history once again takes a tragic turn.