Three years on, the UK must lead the fight against Russia
24th February marks three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A painful anniversary and one which the Ukrainian people dread every year. We must have peace, but this peace must be on Ukraine’s terms and no-one else’s. Certainly not those dictated by Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
For all Trump’s talk of peace, it is plain to see that he only wants power. Power over Ukraine, power over its people, and the power to destroy a rules-based order which we have known for decades. In 2022, he described Putin’s invasion as “genius”, and last week said that “Russia holds all the cards”. However, that is because he gave them away at the first opportunity. Trump seems more concerned about exploiting Ukraine’s mineral wealth than supporting Volodymyr Zelensky who, unlike Putin, was democratically elected. Donald Trump makes our world more dangerous and flies in the face of everything we know to be true.
It would be easy, in the face of all this, to forget that this war affects real people. People who have seen their homes, towns, and way of life upended and destroyed. Many have come to Scotland, and it has been my privilege to meet some who have settled here in Renfrewshire. They have the opportunity to rebuild their lives with the work of some fantastic charities and volunteers but it is clear that they want to return home. A home where they can be safe in their own beds and not have to worry about when the next drone strike might come.
This is what we must always bear in mind when we think about the war in Ukraine. Of course, it is about diplomacy and the fight between freedom and authoritarianism. However, even more than that it is about the people who want to live their lives in peace and liberty, and that is why we must continue to support Ukraine as we mark this third anniversary.
I am proud to be a member of a party that recognises this. Liberal Democrats have stood up for liberal values and called Trump out for what he is: a traitor to Ukraine and a threat to our world. We believe it is time for the United Kingdom to stand up to this playground bully by rapidly boosting our defence spending, restoring our ties with Europe, and upholding the values of liberty, peace, and justice which we hold dear.
Not only can this be done, we can’t afford not to. If Putin prevails in Ukraine, he will only be emboldened by a friendly White House to go after the Baltics, the Balkans, and support repressive regimes in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere. While China will be taking note as it eyes-up Taiwan.
We have an opportunity to take up the mantle and lead Europe in the name of peace. This starts at an individual level: supporting those who fled their homes in Ukraine; and pushing the Scottish and UK Governments to stand up to authoritarianism and repression wherever it rears its head. We must now work with our partners in Europe and beyond for defence, security and economic prosperity. Slava Ukraini.