5 Ways We Can All Help Ukraine

Europe is at war. We should not be surprised, for we were warned over many years: by Ukraine, the Russian opposition, security analysts, political commentators, and President Putin himself. Consumed by the media circus of populism, their governments mired in systemic incompetence and nepotism, Western world leaders who could have acted to contain Russia instead fell into a policy of appeasement.

Emboldened by Western weakness, and in blatant violation of international law, Putin has now launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine; a thriving democracy, which has extensive cultural and familial ties with Russia. This is just the latest in a string of aggressive military campaigns perpetrated by Putin, justified by falsehoods, to expand his personal empire and suppress democracy: Chechnya 1999, Georgia 2008, Ukraine 2014 (when the UK and US first neglected their obligation under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum to protect Ukraine), Syria 2015, Kazakhstan 2022, and Ukraine 2022.

In 2007-8 I studied in Russia where I made many friends, who I hope oppose this war like so many of their compatriots. In 2013 I served as a British Army officer in Afghanistan, which is to say I know something of war. For many years I looked on and wondered why the West didn’t do more to resist Putin. But even in my relatively well informed position I didn’t expect this, and I wish I’d paid closer attention to the signs. Watching the invasion last week, I felt sick to my stomach; then a good friend of mine, whom in 2017 I had the honour to see marry his Ukrainian wife in Ukraine, urged me to act.

So I ask you please don’t be disheartened, and don’t switch off. As far as our means allow, each of us can take tangible actions to demonstrate our solidarity with Ukraine.

1. DONATE HUMANITARIAN AID

Brave men, women and children in Ukraine are defending their country and democracy itself; many are volunteers armed with donated or improvised weapons, ready to fight to the death. We owe it to the Ukrainian people to do everything in our power to ensure their victory over Putin’s tyranny.?

Ukrainian civilians are suffering most, with hundreds already killed or wounded; some of those by deliberate war crimes. To support them I’ve donated funds to one of many worthy causes, the British Red Cross: https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal

2. LOBBY FOR TOUGHER SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA

We must implore our governments to impose the severest of sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the Russian state. Sanctions alone are unlikely to deter Putin from his campaign but we can continue to cast the net wider and tighten the stranglehold on ill-gotten wealth and influence; not least because crippling the Russian economy will turn oligarchs and businesspeople against Putin.

I encourage you to write to your local elected official in that regard. Where I currently live and work, in Antigua and Barbuda, I’ve written to the British High Commissioner and a number of other diplomats, urging them to lobby the government here to enforce the UK’s sanctions list.

If you’re in the UK, you can find your MP’s email address here: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-an-mp-or-lord/contact-your-mp/

3. MAKE ETHICAL BUSINESS DECISIONS

Is it possible any of the businesses you work with, either customers or suppliers, has links to Putin or the Russian state; directly or through a shell company? How about your investors? Do you have a robust compliance process in place to vet all of this? And if you’re an employee, are you asking these questions of your employer?

I should say I sincerely believe most Russian people do not support Putin’s war, and we must be mindful that protesting against it is risky even for those living in Western countries. We cannot therefore expect every Russian citizen to be publicly outspoken in their criticism of Putin, and we should have sympathy for the Russian people at large; including soldiers, who are simply following orders.

If, however, you know or suspect you are doing business with a beneficiary or supporter of Putin’s regime, now is the time to investigate accordingly and exercise your own ethical judgement. The sanctions lists are growing but they’re not exhaustive, nor infallible; they also differ in the UK, EU and USA. If you fail to make informed business decisions in this context, even if you aren’t breaking the law, you could have Ukrainian blood on your hands.

The recently updated UK sanctions list is a good start: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list

4. COMBAT DISINFORMATION

Putin’s propaganda machines in the West, such as Russia Today, are starting to be silenced. Privileged Westerners like Rory Suchet, who disgrace the journalistic profession by parroting Putin’s lies for money, I consider traitors to democracy.

Social media is unfortunately rife with false and misleading information, from both sides, so exercise caution. Please educate yourself and others about the facts, choose your media sources carefully, and share appropriately on social media. Be clear that anyone who defends Putin’s illegal war has either been brainwashed, or is the enemy. This is no time to sit on the fence; anyone not for Ukraine is against the civilised world.

The Economist has particularly good coverage: https://www.economist.com/ukraine-crisis

5. OPTIONAL: CONSIDER ADVOCATING FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION

Knowing Putin respects power in the form of actions not words, yet is ultimately risk averse, I believe only the credible intent of Western military intervention will make him reconsider his strategy. Military aid in the form of weapons is welcome but may not suffice. Putin has calculated that, whatever happens, Western powers will not intervene militarily for fear of NATO Article 5 being invoked; meaning, for example, that if just one British plane were shot down, all NATO member states would effectively be obliged to declare war on Russia.

I feel the West must show Putin he has miscalculated; that we are not afraid to intervene, if it comes to it. Standing up to Putin need not necessarily result in irreversible escalation, as some Western politicians claim; nor does taking a softer stance negate the chance of escalation, for we are dealing with an ambitious and increasingly insecure despot who views weakness as opportunity.?

Intervention could be limited to the air, creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine and thereby denying Russia the significant advantage of air superiority. This does not need to happen immediately but should not be taken off the table, yet. If, for instance, Putin in his desperation decides to commit mass atrocities, like indiscriminate bombing of civilians in order to overcome cities, the West needs a way to respond with force. Putin would have us believe there is no middle ground between total restraint and total war, but I’m not sure we can afford to be cowed by his threats; the consequences of inaction could be as serious as genocide and an end to the rules-based international order. This is my opinion and I’m aware it’s controversial.

I have signed petitions asking the British government and NATO respectively to pledge military support, at least in principle. If you agree with me, I encourage you to do the same: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/607314 and https://www.openpetition.eu/petition/online/people-around-the-world-ask-nato-to-close-the-airspace-over-ukraine

Even if you disagree with me on this point please still consider my suggestions 1-4, which are almost universally supported.

DO WHATEVER YOU CAN

I’ve been heartened to see many businesses and individuals around the world doing all manner of great deeds, often at significant cost and sometimes personal risk. The above are just my own suggestions, based on my personal experience and circumstances.

When in years to come you’re asked about the time Putin the tyrant invaded Ukraine, threatening the very fabric of democracy, what will you say you did?

Please comment what you’re doing, and share this article to inspire people to demonstrate their solidarity with Ukraine.

Slava Ukraini! Heroiam slava! /?Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!

#standwithukraine #нетвойне