Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Member of the Senedd has called on Wales to stand in solidarity with Ukraine amid continued threats to its independence by the Russian Government. This morning Dodds submitted a Statement of Opinion to the Senedd in support of Ukraine which can now be signed by other members.
Commenting, Dodds said:
Now more than ever, the rules-based international order is under threat. After years of hybrid warfare, threats and provocations, which tragically have seen over 13,000 casualties in the last few years, a further Russian incursion into Ukraine now looks like a serious possibility. Russia’s amassing of over 130,000 troops on the Ukrainian border may seem like a far-flung conflict for many in Wales, but we must be unwavering in our support for the freedom of Ukraine or come to face the consequences in the future.
Jane continues:
The liberal values that have underpinned European peace security for generations, namely the respect for a rules-based international order, the right to national self-determination, international law and democracy are now directly under threat. This should deeply worry any liberal or democrat.
We cannot allow Europe, or the world, to return to an age where large authoritarian states can use military action to force smaller democratic states to do their bidding. This type of system only leads to chaos, destruction and great suffering. If this type of violent order is allowed to re-establish itself, where is next? Where does it end? Moldova, Georgia and the Baltics would immediately be placed under increased threat.
Ukrainians are not the property of Russia, or more specifically Putin and his cronies despite the effort of Putin’s regime to invoke imperialist propaganda of Russians and Ukrainians being one people. The people of Ukraine have the democratic right to decide what direction their country goes in.
Ukraine has undergone a dramatic transition since the fall of the Soviet Union into a vibrant democracy. Two people’s revolutions in 2004 and 2014, driven by young people, saw the country rise up against authoritarianism, kleptocracy and corruption. These revolutions sent fear into the heart of Putin’s regime. For all the bravado, Putin himself as the head of a corrupt network of oligarchs remains vulnerable to such revolutions himself. It is therefore little wonder he is seeking to dismantle this new Ukraine.
We in Wales must show we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their fight to remain free. Should we not, we could see our security and economic stability threatened like never before. Wales must also be prepared to take in Ukrainian refugees should the worst come to pass.
Within the UK, we urgently need the Conservative Government in Westminster to urgently clean up Russian money-laundering operations in the UK, not least in London and in their own party.
Despite all this, we mustn’t despair, we can find peace and Russia with its weak economy can be strong-armed into coming back from the brink through diplomacy and the threat of hard-hitting economic sanctions. But we must also remain resolute, and in the age of weaponised disinformation by states such as Russia, ensure we keep our eyes on our guiding principles of democracy, freedom and cooperation.
The statement of opinion reads:
This Senedd:
1) Recognises the longstanding historical ties between Wales and Ukraine.
2) Re-affirms its recognition that Ukraine is a free and independent nation, which has the right to choose its own direction in the world.
3) Recognises and respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and its borders, which tragically have seen over 13,000 casualties in the last few years.
4) Calls on the Russian Government to desist further threats to the territorial and political integrity of Ukraine.
5) Supports the continuation of democracy in Ukraine.
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8 Comments
I’m sure that the Ukrainian people will be gratified that the Welsh Lib Dems are on their side. What good this will do to the present situation is debatable. The ramping up of aggro plays directly into Putin’s hands. Most of what Ms Dodds states is true; but we are surely facing realpolitik here. The fact is that Putin, whether we in the West like it or not, has a point. Since the break up of the Soviet Union, we have delighted in rubbing Russia’s nose in it, which has proved great ammunition for Putin and his cronies. At the same time, we Brits have allowed vast amounts of Russian money of dubious origin to swell the markets in London, while our former partners in the EU have become ever more dependent on Russian gas in particular for their energy requirements.
If we are prepared to draw a line in the sand, it is really up to the USA to draw that line, preferably on the border of the Baltic States and Poland. Despite its democratic reforms, I for one, would not support our going to war over the Ukraine, because, when push comes to shove, that’s what solidarity in this context ultimately might mean.
Thanks for sharing this. This statement is important for many reasons. It is an important reminder that while our eye has only been on this recently, due to the recent Russian troop build up, this issue has not gone away for the Ukrainians. They have been at war with Russia for 8 years. The past 8 years seem to have been quiet for us, but sadly not for Ukraine.
I think our party needs a firmer stance on this. Unfortunately I feel some liberals are wary of leftward pressure to blame this on NATO and somehow come to terms with Russia. We can’t come to terms with a belligerent who isn’t dealing in truth.
As you sadly put, if we do not call the Russian’s bluff they will pull the same trick somewhere else. Being liberal means standing up for the sovereignty of all countries and their freedom to determine their own foreign policies.
In the real world, rather than in the rhetorical world, and in the absence of any actual specifics, can Ms Dodds clarify whether or not she is proposing to send in the Welsh Guards to the Ukrainian/Russo border ?
Agree whole heartedly with the tenor of the article.
Hopefully we have a week for more “diplomacy”, if that is what it is. However the only thing Putin understands is a real block and that unfortunately means armed intervention of one sort or another. Probably the best element to provide is a No Flow Zone over the Ukraine enforced if needs be by NATO squadrons from N ATO countries and their carriers.
Sanctions however strong will not deter a quick overwhelming Russian invasion.
Interesting that the overthrowing if a democratically elected government in 2014 is presented in a positive light. I used to think that a fundamental principle of democracy was that you should only use democratic means to change a democratically elected government, but it appears that this is not how the USA views things. Thinking back to the US backed overthrow and killing of democratically elected President Allende in Chile in 1973, or the USA backing for the terrorist group the Contras which fought against the democratically elected Sandinista government in Nicaragua, and then more recently rushing to back the overthrow of the democratically elected Ukrainian President in 2014, it appears the USA and the West only backs democratically elected governments if they are on ‘our side’.
Whatever the rights and wrongs in the present Ukrainian crisis it must be extremely difficult to deal with and trust the present incumbent at the helm of Russia, ordinary civilians suffer and die unnecessarily because of the self-serving egos of leaders and politicians around the world, nothing changes on that front??
There are some interesting theories going the rounds as to exactly what Putin and his cronies are up to. Could he have serious intentions about recreating the Soviet Empire, let alone the Tsarist Empire? That’s of course possible, particularly as, before the collapse of the Soviet Union, there were only two nuclear superpowers. Now there are three.
The problem is that, now China has emerged to challenge the US in the Pacific, Uncle Sam has got to face two potential adversaries. While there was tension on its border with China before the latter’s rise to world power, the Soviet Union was in effect fighting with one hand tied behind its back, which is effectively what the US is forced to do now. With the apparent rapprochement with Xi, Putin can concentrate on the West. “But what about NATO?” You may ask. I would be more confident about NATO’s ability if all 30 members were pulling their weight; but clearly they aren’t.
Just imagine this. How would the West, or rather the US, react if, as Putin invaded Ukraine, China launched an attack on Taiwan? Perish the thought.
@Brad Barrows
I think the situation at the time of the Euromaidan protests in 2014 in Ukraine is far more akin to eg the revolutions in Eastern Europe in 1989 than the overthrow of a democratic government.
For example, snipers were set on the public on several occasions, as Ceaucescu did in Romania.