We hate and despise Vladimir Putin’s invasion precisely because it has brought death, misery, flight and atrocities to innocent people. Why then, a year afterwards, do so many people seem to be so keen on making the Ukraine war deeper and longer?
If they hate war, surely they want it to stop? There are no nice wars. The more fighting there is, the more blood and screams and tragedy there will be. But I cannot think of a war in modern times in which so little effort has been made to bring about peace.
I think this is because so many people have come to see the war as a simple battle between good and evil. President Zelensky of Ukraine is like the white wizard Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings. And President Putin of Russia is like the Dark Lord, Sauron. This leads them to think that nothing their side does can be mistaken and that the other side has no case at all.
Actually, I think Mr Zelensky has borne himself very well in this battle and Putin has borne himself very badly. But I can’t share this simple view of the conflict and I suggest you do not do so either.
I have a feeling the British public are growing nervous and worried about where it may lead them. And we would all benefit from a far more open debate. It is not healthy for any country to suppress disagreement. When the British establishment is totally united, it is almost always wrong.
The scenes of general adulation of Volodymyr Zelensky in Parliament last week reminded me of the last time the whole country was agreed – the Covid panic. And most thinking people are beginning to learn that our response to the virus was a series of dangerous mistakes, which wounded the economy, badly hurt the NHS, ravaged education in schools and universities, caused much needless personal misery and gravely undermined the national work ethic.
At that time, it was very hard to oppose what was going on. Those who did were called ‘deniers’ and accused of callous disregard for life.
Now, if you have doubts about the Ukraine war, you will find yourself falsely accused of being a defender of Mr Putin, or of being a ‘denier’ of war crimes.
Helping Ukraine defend itself against a lawless attack was a simple issue. And the Russian offensive, incompetently led and ill-planned, was mangled and largely halted very quickly.
But supplying highly offensive weapons, tanks, long-range missiles, perhaps jet bombers, is different. If your neighbour is attacked, you go to his aid. But if he then wishes to make his own attack, you might not be so keen to join.