DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Make this Ukraine’s last year of horror
War, said Leon Trotsky, is the locomotive of history. To make sure it is the West in the driving seat of that locomotive and not Vladimir Putin, Ukraine must be saved.
Thanks to their heroic bravery and the provision of Nato weapons, President Zelensky’s forces have secured victories few thought possible when Russia launched its unprovoked and barbaric invasion.
But a year on from the unleashing of horrors so recently unthinkable in Europe, the war hangs in the balance. The free world is at a fork in the track.
How the West continues supporting Ukraine is critical. Does it supply just enough weapons for our friends to survive repeated Russian onslaughts, but not enough to win on the battlefield and bring the carnage to an end?
Or do we step up support, sending more tanks, long-range missile systems and, yes, fighter planes, to give Ukraine the wherewithal to push the invaders back?
President Zelensky’s forces have secured victories few thought possible when Russia launched its unprovoked and barbaric invasion. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers help a wounded comrade, Bakhmut, Ukraine, February 20, 2023
The answer is obvious. As Boris Johnson, who galvanised the West when other leaders wrung their hands, says pointedly: ‘The world is facing the decisive moment of the early 21st Century.’
There is only one option: To give the Ukrainians all the tools they need to defeat Putin – and give them now. The tyrant cannot be permitted to succeed in his brutal expansionism.
He has proved himself to be a colossal blunderer who’s succeeded in delivering his own worst nightmare. His aggression has united the West, strengthened Nato and reinvigorated liberal democracy.
We should be doing everything in our power to hasten Putin’s defeat, end his atrocities, preserve the global order – and send a warning to other dictators.
A year ago, this column said that Britain had a solemn duty to offer the Ukrainian people our steel and succour. We must continue to do so.
Keir can’t be trusted
Seeking to articulate his political vision, Sir Keir Starmer has set out what he dubbed his ‘five missions’ for transforming Britain.
Such pronouncements are important, offering the public a chance to assess the quality and priorities of those seeking their vote at the next election. But what did we actually learn from Labour’s leader – other than that worrying questions remain about his integrity and originality?
His bold blueprint for the UK involves economic growth, a better NHS, safer streets, more opportunities for people and cleaner, green energy. But who’s not in favour of those things? He may as well say he wants the sun to shine for longer.
Beyond generalities and platitudes, there was no clue as to how he’d achieve any of these goals or pay for them (although taxing the strivers until the pips squeak must be a hot favourite).
Nor do voters know his views on other key issues. Illegal small boat migrants? Silence. The housing crisis? Silence. The definition of a woman? Silence. As a Boris Johnson ally says cuttingly, he’s a human bollard.
Seeking to articulate his political vision, Sir Keir Starmer set out what he dubbed his ‘five missions’ for transforming Britain yesterday
While this paper does not always see eye to eye with the BBC, Radio 4 presenter Amol Rajan deserves great praise for not letting Sir Keir squirm off the hook during a flagship interview yesterday.
The Opposition leader could only bluster when asked how voters can trust his promises, when he’s broken so many. Abolishing tuition fees, renationalising utilities – both ditched for expedience.
Yes, Sir Keir may be a ruthless pragmatist who is focused only on winning the election. But right-thinking voters in Britain will surely see his true colours – someone who’ll say anything if it will win him votes.
True, the Tories are on the political ropes. But if they can tackle the Channel migrants, protect Northern Ireland and face down the unions, there’s no reason they can’t get back in the fight.
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