Hold your colour against the wall

[dolorosa_12]

This grim anniversary has come around again: the third anniversary of the unjustified, horrific full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which (and I can’t believe I have to say this) was started by Russia, and for whose catastrophic effects Russia is solely responsible. Much of what I said in last year’s post is still true today (apart from the comments about the United States, which I now just replace with 😱 forever).

However, I want to add one more thing. Unfortunately, in much of Western Europe, there has been a major failure in communication regarding the very real consequences for us of the outcome of this war. Our people and governments supported Ukraine because Ukrainians were brave and tragic, and because Russia was in the wrong and committed atrocities — and these things are all true — but what really should have been hammered home is that Ukrainian survival and victory is in our own self interest. These past two weeks have shown clearly the very dangerous consequences for our own security if Ukraine is not given the tools it needs to prevail. We are less safe now than we were two weeks ago, and if Ukraine is forced into a ‘peace’ deal on the terms currently offered, we will be less safe then than we are currently. We need to confront these facts with honesty. And we need to write to our political representatives about this. We may not be able to persuade the US government from its current horrifying course, but we need at least to show our own governments that we recognise the gravity of the current situation.

Beyond that, my suggestions for other concrete actions in last year’s post are still good things to do. Go to rallies in support of Ukraine today (there is one in London in Trafalgar Square this evening; look up information for your own cities, as there are many other similar events taking place elsewhere).

Donated to United24 (my regular monthly donations usually go to Come Back Alive, but given the Russian propaganda disinformation narratives about the alleged illegitimacy of the Ukrainian government currently being shared with glee by the US leadership, I wanted to make a point of donating to the — democratically elected, legitimate — Ukrainian government's official charity platform)

Wrote to my MP thanking her for her political party leader's clear statements in support of Ukraine and against exploitative, extractive 'peace' 'negotions' being carried out without Ukraine's involvement, and reiterating that I expect to continue to see constructive, cross-party consensus regarding aid for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, and opposition to a phoney 'peace' without justice

Joined Ukraine Solidarity Campaign as a member (my union is already affiliated)

Donated to Bylines Network and subscribed to their regional outlet (the erosion of robust, responsible local news outlets is a huge contributor to people's lack of information literacy skills and susceptibility to propaganda, disinformation, and conspiratorial thinking, and supporting grassroots, local citizen journalism is one small thing we can do to combat that)

And of course I went to the rally in London on Saturday.


We cannot afford to give up now.

Comments

[kore]

These past two weeks have shown clearly the very dangerous consequences for our own security if Ukraine is not given the tools it needs to prevail.

It just keeps feeling like we're all watching Poland be invaded in 1939.

[dolorosa_12]

I would say the analogy is Czechoslovakia in 1938, with the potential to become Poland in 1939 if Europe behaves like Chamberlain.

Three years ago, I already made up my mind about what I would be prepared to do if we got to the 1939 scenario. I fear my fellow residents of western Europe haven't even got to the stage of acknowledging how close we are to such a situation.

[kore]

No, you're quite right. I guess Trump may play Chamberlain since iirc the US has provided the most military assistance up til now. Trump calling Zelensky a dictator was sickening.

[dolorosa_12]

My government is attempting the Cirque du Soleil-level feat of acrobatics that is: new massive military aid package and 100-year defence agreement, new package of sanctions, while simultaneously making an eleventh-hour attempt to convince the Orange Menace (no doubt with lots of flattery and thick-skinned ignoring of insults and propaganda narratives) that Europe's security is in his own interest.

I've stopped reading the news for tonight, it's so stressful.

[la_marquise]

So much this.

[dolorosa_12]

People need to be willing to acknowledge this, and then decide what to do next.

We have agency, and we need to use it.

[chestnut_pod]

I've appreciated your steadfastness very much.

[dolorosa_12]

Thank you.

So far, all I have had to sacrifice is time, effort, and money. I'd rather keep carrying on resolutely to ensure I keep things that way.

[scripsi]

Yes, I completely agree. Ukraine's sake is our sake.

[dolorosa_12]

I mean, obviously the countries that were formerly occupied by the Soviet Union or forced to be puppet states understood this from the beginning (with the depressing exception of Hungary's government), and I think in general that the Nordic countries have also been better in this regard. Western Europe, however, has completely buried its head in the sand since 2014 (or really since 2008), and just assumed the Americans would always defend us, or that economic motivations would force Russia to behave rationally.

I was at an event on Friday with the former Ukrainian foreign minister, and he said that basically if Ukraine is forced into a unjust 'peace' on the terms currently offered, it means Europe has shown the world that it's not capable of defending itself, and that he had spent three years trying fruitlessly to explain this to his counterparts in other European countries, to no avail.

[scripsi]

and I think in general that the Nordic countries have also been better in this regard.

Being Swedish I can say we have. Having been next door to Russia since forever, does makes one a bit wary...

I was at an event on Friday with the former Ukrainian foreign minister, and he said that basically if Ukraine is forced into a unjust 'peace' on the terms currently offered, it means Europe has shown the world that it's not capable of defending itself, and that he had spent three years trying fruitlessly to explain this to his counterparts in other European countries, to no avail.

hopefully that is starting to change now!