CONTINUES (2/2)
The former defence secretary of the United Kingdom writes:
"I have a concern that has grown ever larger this summer. It is now so pressing that I cannot stay quiet about it any longer.
Given the way that Putin is targeting men, women and children using glide bombs frequently launched from Russia, we must now urgently approve the use of our long-range weapons into Russia.
Just last week, a devastating Russian missile attack targeted the city of Poltava, striking a hospital and surrounding residential area, killing at least 51 people and injuring more than 200, marking one of the deadliest attacks of the year.
We know that many attacks are launched from Russia itself. And yet, with the exception of our giving permission to allow UK missiles to strike Crimea, we have remained cautious about allowing our Ukrainian allies to target the source of these attacks.
It is no longer credible for us to cheer on Ukraine, invite the president to No 10, and yet fail to allow our defensive weapons to be used where they would be most effective.
It’s time to stop asking President Zelensky’s brave population to fight with one arm tied behind their backs.
Instead the UK must issue a straightforward warning to Putin. If you continue to murder men, women and children with glide bombs launched from Russia, then we will lead the rest of the world to authorise our long-range missiles to take out your launchers, regardless of where they happen to be — even inside Russia.
Now is the moment to remind ourselves that what is happening in Ukraine isn’t just about them. It is about us too. It is about defending our entire way of life. Our imperfect, often frustrating system of self-government. The same system that sometimes leads to the governing party being booted out of office due to underperformance.
Putin is wrong about us. Maintaining a system with democratic winners and losers isn’t weakness. It is strength. But we can only maintain that legitimacy if we stand up for others whose democracy is under attack. And that does need raw muscle. So Britain must regain her place as the country willing to lead again.
We should provide permission for our Storm Shadows to be used, and invite the French, the Americans and even our more reticent German partners to follow us. With a simple ultimatum to Putin: stop your inbound attacks on Ukraine, or we will support Ukraine’s response.
I know that freedom, democracy and elections are complete anathema to Putin. But we are stronger because we willingly accept that elections may not always go our way. He would rather impose his autocracy on Ukraine, but if you value freedom, this is not just a battle for Ukraine, it matters the free world over. Or to put it another way, this is a battle for the right to be a political loser."
