Croatia recalls 1995 decision that paved the way for Operation Storm and final independence

Former parliamentarian and veteran Petar Škorić highlighted the historic 31 July 1995 letter by President Franjo Tuđman to UN envoy Yasushi Akashi, urging an end to negotiations with rebel Serbs. The decisive message set the stage for the military‑political operation Storm, which liberated most occupied Croatian territory and secured the country's final freedom.

Journalist Gordan Malić later drew parallels between that turning point and the ongoing war in Ukraine, arguing that just as Croatia’s resolve led to a decisive victory, Russia may eventually face a similar “Ukrainian Storm”. He wrote, “To je bio i poučak Domovinskog rata, Oluje i Bljeska…”, suggesting that the lesson of defending national sovereignty remains relevant today.