Next week on Thursday 24th August, Ukraine celebrates its Independence Day. First celebrated since being free of the Soviet Union in 1991, this day will also be 18 months since Russia launched its full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine - a wholly unjust war that has had global consequences ever since.
Like last year, celebrations will be subdued in Ukraine for obvious reasons, but it is right that we also mark it in the rest of the democratic world, including here in the UK. I send good wishes to our small local Ukrainian population here in Crawley and West Sussex with renewed hope for a happy Independence Day. I view showing solidarity with Ukraine as important, as Ukraine is the front line against a powerful tyranny that seeks to conquer and control other nations.
I would argue where that front line is will depend on the strength and resolve of us all, and that we in the west and the rest of the world were too soft when Russia invaded Crimea and eastern Ukraine back in 2014, including the killing of 298 people when Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by Russian controlled forces over eastern Ukraine. The world’s response wasn’t strong enough in 2014 and Putin was not discouraged, subsequently launching the full invasion 18 months ago.
The west is now standing up to Russia but our resolve must not weaken, even though we are paying an economic price including high inflation, although Ukraine is paying with the lives of their people. If we don’t stand firm in supporting Ukraine and punishing the Russian economy that funds their war machine, then more countries and territories will be threatened, and other regimes with malign intentions around the world will be emboldened.
Ukraine must prevail and we must keep helping them until Russia is driven back to its borders. I’m proud that after the United States, the UK is the largest supplier of weapons and equipment to Ukraine as they valiantly seek to defend and liberate their entire country from the vile Russian regime and ongoing missile attacks on civilian targets.
Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group
16th August 2023
