An alternative VE day message – Standing with Ukraine.
In 2025, the world marks 80 years since Victory in Europe (VE) Day. But the war in Ukraine rages on – a stark reminder that peace and freedom can never be taken for granted.
While we celebrate the end of an old conflict, millions of Ukrainians are still living through the devastation of an ongoing war.
On behalf of the European Movement UK we went to Ukraine, to put Ukrainian voices in front of a British audience and to ensure their voices are not forgotten.
We are presenting these stories in a new film: Flags in the Wind.
In Flags in the Wind, we hear from the voices of everyday Ukrainians forced to flee their homes in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kyiv, relocating to the humanitarian hubs around Lviv.
By hearing their experiences, we discover the resilience of a people, the horrors of war, and the determination to set an example to the people of Europe in the face of tyranny.
With contributions from Ukrainian citizens, veterans, senior politicians, and rehabilitation centre clinicians, Flags in the Wind delivers a sober message at a time when Europe is remembering the end of World War II.
Since we were founded in 1949,our mission at the European Movement has always been to promote peace, democracy, and unity across Europe.
This film is a direct expression of that purpose – reminding us that standing together in the face of aggression is essential to protecting our shared, European future.
We know that the Liberal Democrats share our mission. It is vital that at a time of growing populism on both sides of the Atlantic, we stand up to those who wish to cede ground to tyranny.
As you watch the film, we invite you to reflect on what it means to stand with Ukraine.
Supporting Ukraine is about solidarity. Defending democracy, human rights, and the values that unite Europe.
Watch the film now and join us in supporting Ukraine.
Share the film, send a message of support to the people of Ukraine and start a conversation – all so that, together, we can help keep the spotlight on those who need it most.
Together, we can ensure that Ukraine’s story is heard – and that history’s lessons are not forgotten.
* By Cllr Richard Kilpatrick and Michael Anderson Richard Kilpatrick and Michael Anderson are Directors of Flags in the Wind Cllr Richard Kilpatrick is a Liberal Democrat Councillor representing Didsbury West Ward on Manchester City Council. Richard is also the campaign manager at European Movement UK. Michael Anderson co-directed Flags in the Wind and is the European Movement UK’s Campaigns and Communication officer.
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13 Comments
We all want the war to end. I hope the Ukrainian leadership takes up Putin’s offer of unconditional talks in Istanbul on May 15th, rather than refusing to start negotiations until after a ceasefire, as it their current position. I fully understand why Ukraine would want a ceasefire to allow it 30 days to re-arm and build new trenches in areas where they have been on the retreat, but a temporary ceasefire to prepare for more war will not lead to peace.
The reality is that peace talks usually follow ceasefires in situations where a war is at a stalemate and both sides benefit equally from a pause in fighting. Since Russia is gradually advancing, and is recruiting new solders more quickly than its soldiers are being killed and badly injured, it is not realistic to expect it to agree to a ceasefire in advance of talks. So let’s hope that Ukraine seizes the chance of direct talks and tests to see whether a negotiated settlement can be achieved – and, if not, for it to be clear which side is responsible for the break down of negotiations.
Mike Peters: “Direct talks” while Ukrainian civilians are being bombed? OK let’s have direct talks between the fox and the chickens, while the fox is free to roam the chicken coup.
@Alex Macfie
So, is it better to have direct talks to end the killing while civilians are being killed, or no talks to end the killing while civilians are being killed?
There can be no meaningful talks until the party responsible for killing civilians (i.e. Russia) stops doing so. Putin could stop the killing any time he wanted. There shouldn’t need to be “talks” for that, and until Putin does stop the killing, he cannot be trusted to keep to his side of any bargain.
@Alex Macfie 11/5 16:35
Agree wholeheartedly.
Putin could stop this any time he wanted to.
Could it be that Putin is of that mindset which regrets that Perestroika ever happened i.e. that the soviet union gave up even 1 sq cm of the Eastern European territory which is nowadays free (just about) from his grasp (East Germany, Baltic states etc.)?
@Alex Macfie
So we just disagree on this: you would prefer that there are no talks to end the killing, while the killing is continuing, whereas I would prefer to have talks to end the killing even as the killing is continuing. Either way, the killing continues – but my view is that talks at least hold out the hope of the possibility of an end to the killing.
@Nonconformistradical
Yes, Putin could stop at any time but we all understand that Russia is gradually advancing so he won’t stop unless there is a negotiated settlement to end this. Ukraine, of course, doesn’t want a negotiated settlement as that would involve making compromises, so this war will likely continue well into the foreseeable future.
“…as that would involve making compromises.”
I have always been of the view that it is exceptionally wicked of the Ukrainians to not want to put chunks of their country into the careful hands off Mr Putin.
I think it’s true that Putin could stop this war – and stop the killing – any time he wants, and that his Government is solely responsible for the war and is completely in the wrong. I totally agree with Alex Macfie and Nonconformistradical there. But Mike Peters is correct to the extent that our moral beliefs about Putin’s responsibility shouldn’t be a reason to avoid talks about a ceasefire if that is a possibility. If massaging Putin’s ego a little bit by talking to him will allow us to avoid many more Ukrainian deaths, then that’s got to be the lesser of two evils.
On the other hand I would absolutely draw the line at any pressure on Ukraine to give up any territory it doesn’t want to give up, or to agree to unfair peace terms. We need to be clear throughout our support for Ukraine that Russia is the aggressor and we will continue to give Ukraine whatever support it needs that we can realistically give it.
“….to not want to put chunks of their country”
There is the question of what “their country” actually is. Does it include Crimea, for example, which was transferred to Ukraine by the USSR in 1954 without any reference to the wishes of the population.
Should they have a say in what might happen next?
“Should they have a say in what might happen next?”
You need to ask the wonderful Mr Putin that.
Don’t worry; he’ll say, no.
@ Chris Moore,
Why would Putin say no? He’s claimed that he has the support of the Crimean population.
The question isn’t about Putin in any case. It’s about what we in the UK, and in the West generally, think should happen and what demands should be made in the negotiations.
If we are saying that the pre 2014 Ukrainian borders have to be restored, the chances of the war finishing any time soon are small.
Wikipedia tells us:
1921 – WW I: Crimea was an ASSR within the Russian SFSR
WW II: invaded by Nazi Germany
1945 – 1954: Crimea was an Oblast in the Russian SSR
1954 – 1990: Crimea was an Oblast in the Ukrainian SSR
“During the collapse of the Soviet Union at the start of the 1990s, the Russian SFSR declared itself sovereign on 12 June 1990 and the Ukrainian SSR declared itself sovereign on 16 July 1990.
In September 1990, the Soviet of People’s Deputies of the Crimean Oblast called for the restoration of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic together with the previous level of autonomy that the peninsula had enjoyed under the ASSR.”
When Ukraine voted to leave the USSR in 1991, Crimea was an oblast within the Ukrainian SSR. The Crimean population voted to become an Autonomous area within the Ukrainian republic. The Crimean Parliament later declared the state sovereignty of Crimea as a constituent part of Ukraine.
While little credence can be given to the referendum undetaken in 2014 after Russian troops had occupied the peninsula, there is no doubt that Crimeans have sought a high degree of autonomy (if not indepedence) within Ukraine and it appears many would quite likely prefer to retain dual Russian/Ukrainian citizenship akin to that of Northern Ireland citizens., if at all possible.