The horror of war returned to Europe today with Russia ’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.
Russian forces strode across the border of a democratic sovereign state and began their slaughter of opposition troops and civilians.
There is no justification for this aggression. Ukraine’s only provocation was to express its legitimate desire to decide its future.
The responsibility for the bloodshed rests with Vladimir Putin, who will stop at nothing in his mission to build another Russian empire.
His intentions were made clear when Russian troops entered Georgia in 2008 and when he annexed Crimea in 2014.
The malign influence of the Kremlin was obvious when it supported Assad in Syria, assassinated political opponents and poisoned the Skripals in Salisbury.
There was a collective failure by Western nations to stand up to Russia.
Leaders who tried to appease the autocratic Russian president only emboldened him.
The UK was too willing to allow oligarchs’ roubles to pollute our politics and business while Germany cared more about its gas supplies from Russia.
Ex-US President Donald Trump blocked US military support to Ukraine in order to pressure its government to dish dirt on Joe Biden.
The failures of the past must not distract from the pressing task of the present. The West must now stand firm in its support for Ukraine.
Although there is no appetite for boots on the ground, we must offer all other means to help Ukraine withstand Russian barbarism.
Sanctions announced by the Government today should have been imposed before Russian forces stamped on Ukrainian soil.
Hope can be found among the brave people who took to the streets of Russian cities in protest. Only Putin wanted this war.
By standing alongside Ukraine we stand alongside all democratic and peaceful nations.
If we fail in our resolve we will fail to halt further land grabs by a tyrant who has turned the Cold War into a scorching conflict.
