As the Financial Times has noted in an editorial this morning:
The underwhelming [UK move on sanctions] has done little to improve the UK's notoriety for being a hub where money and reputations of oligarchs close to the Kremlin can be laundered. More worryingly, such a paltry salvo risks emboldening Putin's strategy of coercive diplomacy as Europe grapples with its worst security crisis in a generation.
It is impossible to disagree.
I argued for what I thought necessary yesterday.
This morning we know that the continued nod the UK gives to Russie that it will always turn a blind eye has led to war on Ukraine.
I have the deepest, inexpressible, sympathy with the people of Ukraine this morning. Whatever the rights and wring of any state involved in this dispute the straightforward human appeal of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a final appeal broadcast last night is powerful and worth noting. It was translated by Politco:
“I'm speaking Russian, but nobody in Russia understands what these places, streets, and events are. This is our land and our history. What are you fighting for? And with who? Lots of you have relatives in Ukraine, you studied in Ukrainian universities, you have Ukrainian friends. You know our character, our principles, what matters to us. Listen to yourselves, to the voice of reason. The people of Ukraine want peace. The government of Ukraine wants peace. It's doing everything it can. We're not alone. That's true, lots of countries support Ukraine. Because this isn't about peace at any price. It's about peace, principles, justice, international law, the right to determine your own future. This is about society's right to be safe and people's rights to live without threats. This is all important for us and for the world. I know for sure that this is important for you too.”
They note he added:
“War will take guarantees away from everyone. Nobody will have security guarantees anymore. Who will suffer most of all? People. Who doesn't want that to happen more than anyone? People. Who can stop that? People. These people are among you. I'm sure. Activists, journalists, musicians, actors, athletes, scientists, doctors, bloggers, stand-up comedians, TikTokers, and many others. Ordinary people, simple people, men, women, the old, the young, fathers, and most of all — mothers. Just like the people in Ukraine. Just like the government in Ukraine. However they try to convince you otherwise. I know that Russian TV won't show my speech. But citizens of Russia need to see it. They need to see the truth. The truth is you need to stop before it's too late. And if the leadership of Russia doesn't want, for the sake of peace, to sit at the table with us, maybe it'll sit at the table with you. Do the Russians want war? I'd love to answer that question. But the answer only depends on you — citizens of Russia.”
The simple reality is that no one wins from war.
Putin is threatening to escalate this one: the threat during the night could only have been of a nuclear attack on the West.
I grew up during the Cold War, and never quite believed the threat. This morning I do.
I note this tweet from Robert Peston this morning:
For those tempted to pst some anti-BBC or Peston rhetoric, please do not bother. Do not bother with anti-NATO rhetoric either. I know it all, and personally continue to believe that NATO should make clear it has no intention of offering membership to Ukraine. But the threats from Putin are real. His willingness to undertake acts of madness - Mutually Assured Destruction - seems to exist. Let's leave the analysis of mistakes for another time.
This morning is the moment to mourn a loss of peace, whose passing may be very costly.
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It’s quite telling to look at how many prominent brexiteers are backing or apologising for Russia. The mask – as thin as it was – has well and truly been cast off.
I’ve long been opposed to much of Western military action in the past two decades. The war in Iraq was a war crime and history will view it as a colossal strategic mistake.
There have been many critics of recent western foreign policy, especially on the left, and I’ve agreed with a lot of it. But in recent years I’ve noticed many are silent on Russia and China when they do similarly appalling things. And in the past few weeks and months it’s been quite shocking to me to see them out themselves as blatent Russian mouthpieces or apologists.
I think the realpolitik of the broader situation is that the west do have some responsibility for the Ukrainian revolution/coup – whatever you describe it as. The audio recordings were leaked of US officials discussing who they wanted to insert as the new Ukrainian leader.
Ukraine pivoting towards the West is something that will be strategically intolerable to Russia. It has/will upset the balance of power in that region.
I am under no illusion that we would/have/continue to act in similar ways to undermine/destabilise undesirable regimes and power shifts from occurring on our doorstep. Just look at how the USA reacts to anything like a vaguely left leaning regime arising in South America. They get shut down and overthrown.
Neither side will tolerate significant power shifts on their doorstep.
However, I am unequivocal that Russia is the aggressor in this situation. Putin’s deranged speech the other day was Hitleresque. Terrifying. He must be opposed. It will be ugly.
We can’t stand by and allow this maniac despot to grow stronger. We have to act in a united, concerted manner and ensure that he pays a heavy price for this.
Whilst many on the left have, quite rightly, opposed western imperialism and aggression in recent years, we can no longer turn a blind eye to the reality that Russia is a dangerous imperialistic dictatorship that seeks to overthrow the world order and avenge the perceived humiliation of the USSR.
Trump, a Russian intelligence asset, and Brexit, a Russian promoted agenda to weaken the EU and the UK, must be seen as part of this broader Russian plan.
This is no time to apologise for Russia. If we oppose western imperialism then we oppose Russian too. We have to unite globally to remember what it is we do actually stand for and fight for it before it’s too late.
Thank you
Benzo, it’s the same in the US with Tucker Carlson – the most popular host on Fox News (i.e. Rupert Murdoch’s TV channel – which, in turn, is the most watched cable channel in the US) and others, as well as across the Republican Party. But then these people know that due to demographic change their ability to win power in free and fair elections is coming to an end. And so, just as with Putin in Russia – where the fundamental problem with Ukraine is not membership of NATO but that it may become a successful liberal democracy in his doorstep, that Russian could then wonder why they can’t have that too – opposition has to be snuffed out in other ways. In Ukraine it’s come to war. In the US it’s endless election gerrymandering and a lurch to authoritarianism.
Yes, agreed. Valid criticisms of some of our own actions in the West can’t stop us from opposing Putin’s blatant use of force in pursuit of Russaoin imperialism.
And if that means the West, having tried diplomacy and sanctions, still can’t get Putin to respect Ukranian sovereignty, then we must be prepared to use offer military aid above and beyond supplying Ukraine with some defensive weapons.
Putin has been manoeuvring for years to get into this position, hasn’t he? And the world was duly warned, but chose to minimise the danger. So many governments have been distracted by other stupidities and people, or seeking to gain personal advantage by courting Putin, while he seemed to be smiling—and now Putin is cracking a harsh whip, just as he likes—and threatening worse. Hard to see the bright side, here, isn’t it?
This seems a lot hotter than the ‘Cold War’ ever was. There was a sense of caution and good sense then, on both sides, that kept events from escalating much beyond threats and bluster. Those constraints don’t seem to exist any more. This invasion is the equivalent of Hitler marching into Poland. Gloves and masks are off. This is the real Putin.
Scary. Putin is scary. Authoritarianism always is.
Russian money to Brexiteers. Russian money to the Conservative Party. All because Putin wants to destabilising us.
He is succeeding. Time to call Conservatives and Brexiteers what they are – Putin’s Stooges.
This is why the measures Johnson has announced are only to token.
You say that no one wins from war. I would mostly agree with you.
But the sad fact is that some do win from war: arms companies and their shareholders, those that want to erode our rights and politicians who wish to distract attention from their domestic woes.
True
As Eisenhower once pointed out