In Ukraine this morning, people are waking up to a shattered country.
Normally, they’d do what we would do. Walk the dog, go get the paper, visit family, go out for a drink. Prepare for the week.
It’s all gone. In the blink of an eye, one despotic land grab and their whole way of life is wrecked.
Instead, ordinary people – teachers, politicians, doctors, shop staff – are picking up guns to defend homes against invaders.
Their courage is incredible.
Many have fled, of course, which is courage in itself, to leave your home – in many cases your family – because of the danger.
But many have stayed.
They want to look these invaders in the eye and tell them: “What you are doing is wrong. We won’t roll over. We will fight.”
And they are fighting. Not just to protect their homes and the dignity of the country they live in. They are fighting for those ideals held precious by the world.
The idea that just because a neighbour has more tanks, guns, planes or boats, just because they are bigger, or richer, or older, they can’t take what is yours.
They are fighting to show us all strength, courage and patriotism are not cackling in a bunker under the mountains. They are standing together, protecting the rights of human beings to live in safety and in peace.
And the world is watching. Because what happens in Ukraine could happen anywhere. That’s been made clear now. The Baltic States are worried, Finland, Sweden have been threatened.
There are many other countries too that live in the shadow of power-crazed neighbours.
That’s why the world needs to do more than just watch.
Sanctions are a start. Moving troops to vulnerable areas of the continent is a start. Opening our borders to refugees is a start. Aid and weapons are a start.
Next comes the hard work.
A new Cold War with the old opponent. It will deepen the cost of living crisis, hurt relationships with other countries, shake the entire balance of the world.
But we must stand with Ukraine and we must stand together.
And when it gets tough – and it will – remember those people fighting for everything and everyone they love. Those men and women a thousand miles away – yet nearer than ever.
