I’ve got a somewhat controversial view on Ukraine. I was part of the majority view that whilst we needed to do what we can by way of humanitarian aid and wherever possible arming Ukraine, we should avoid direct engagement with Russia. After all, President Putin has already engaged in sabre-rattling with a less than veiled threat to use nuclear weapons. If we do anything other than stand to one side, we risk destroying our world. However, having seen the reports coming out of Ukraine I no longer feel that way.
I was struck by the tweets of Andrew Levi (no, I don’t know who he is, either) who said this:
“The reports coming out of Ukraine are grotesque, inhuman, repellent. Words fail. This is a Bergen-Belsen moment.”
This is not to compare directly what is happening to the Holocaust, but the terrible images of murdered, mutilated and even burned human beings, along with ordinary people being bombed out of their homes make a point of their own.
Let us be clear about Putin: he is a fascist dictator with no regard for human life. Like Adolf Hitler. I have come to the view that the civilised world can no longer stand aside from the slaughter of the innocents.
Levi continues: “If Russia makes further, deranged nuclear threats, their bluff must be called.” I agree with him.
I no longer feel we can ignore what’s happening. And whether it’s through NATO or another international coalition, it’s time to stand up to the Russian bear. I was reading last night that children under 10 were the victims of rape by invading soldiers. I’ve seen images of elderly people being helped to leave their homes, including Jews who escaped the Holocaust in World War Two. And people having their hands tied, hooded and then shot. I am not sure it’s worth calling ourselves civilised human beings if we don’t stand up to that.
And if Putin conquers the rubble of Ukraine, which it will be if he does, then where will he move to next? Those countries who stood aside and waved him into Ukraine? Putin would surely be emboldened by a hollow victory. Because that’s the only alternative, to do nothing except watch another genocide unfold. For we do not know for sure that Russia has not marched Ukrainians into prison camps. That would be a real Bergen-Belsen moment.
These are high stakes and there would be consequences for the world if we stood up to Putin, but how can we not?
