By Anthony Webber:
On February 24th 2022, Russia commenced their Special Military Operation” on Ukraine.
Over three years later, through the efforts of President Donald Trump, the USA has been attempting to broker a peace deal.
From the outset of this conflict, the UK government has had a policy on Ukraine which has never been subject to proper scrutiny.
This has been a staggering omission of the responsibility of government and Parliament.
This lack of examination of this policy, this failure to investigate whether it was the best course of action for the UK, has been a complete dereliction of duty to the British people.
This not only applied to the mainstream political parties in Parliament, but to the so-called Scrutiny Committees themselves, notably Foreign Affairs and Public Accounts.
Added to that, the mainstream media did what the same as what they did during the covid era, and would only allow one line on Ukraine- the government’s.
All of them have let us down very badly.
The governments since February 2022 have been Conservative and Labour, with a total of four Prime Ministers, all following the same policies on Ukraine.
At the General Election in July 2024 the mainstream political parties were deliberately deceptive in what they said about Ukraine.
There was no honesty with the electorate who were not presented with the truth about the background of the conflict and what was actually going on.
They were also not told about the costs and consequences of the government’s Ukraine policies to the British public.
Some of those were the rising costs of living and energy, although this was wrongly blamed on Russia when it was self- inflicted by sanctions against them.
Not surprisingly at the July 2024 General Election, the Conservative government fell along with many of their overtly war supporting Ministers.]
The voters were punishing the establishment, not endorsing Labour.
Looking at government policy on Ukraine, the key questions which must be asked are:
What is government policy?
What has gone wrong with it?
Before examining these, it is important to check on some historical detail:
Russia or the Soviet Union has usually been an ally of the UK, especially in both the First and Second World Wars.
From 1984 onwards an increasingly powerful Mikhail Gorbachev, who became the President of the then Soviet Union in 1990, had several meetings with Margaret Thatcher.
They were both very impressed with each other and this all helped with the productive talks between USA President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.
This all resulted in the arms control treaty signed on 8th December 1987 known as the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty ( INF).
This came into force on 1st June 1988. This was a major breakthrough for world peace.
This was all in the context of what was called the “Cold War”( from 1947 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.)
Royal Visits to Russia
The UK government, following Thatcher’s lead, continued with improving relations with the Soviet Union and then Russia.
Prince Edward visited Moscow in April 1989.
Princess Anne visited Russia in May 1990.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2nd and Prince Philip had a state visit to Russia 17-20th October 1994
In June 2003 President Putin was invited for a State visit to Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth.
In October 2004 Prince Andrew had one of several later visits to Russia. One on 18th February 2009 was with the Russian President.
Clearly at that time the UK government had seen the benefits of improved relations with Russia, which included better security and peace, and the prospect of increasing trade.
At some point the UK government policy changed, but for what reason, because such policy change risks a great deal?
It seems that this change of policy also meant becoming involved political affairs in countries which were previously seen as Russia’s sphere of interest.
In the Ukraine there had been a build up of conflict in the Donbass region in particular.
There was growing involvement of NATO countries such as the USA in the region, and a CIA inspired coup of the democratically elected Ukraine President in 2014, who so happened to be a peacemaker. ( NB 2014 is incidentally the year combat roles were stopped in Afghanistan).
Then the Russians supported the secessionists in Crimea, who broke away from the Ukraine.
Tensions in the region continued to build up and although there were attempts at negotiations, they all failed because of mutual distrust.
The Russians maintained they had to act because of continued attacking of Russians living in the east, the actions of anti -Russian neo-Nazis Azov extremists, and the attempts for Ukraine to join NATO.
The UK government had been involved in Ukraine affairs for some time.
Boris Johnson himself stated on 1st February 2022 ( before the Russian invasion) that since 2015 the UK had trained 22,000 Ukrainian troops and given £2.2m of military equipment.
For what reason? What was Ukraine’s defence to do with the UK? The Russians were well aware of this, hence their distrust of the motives of certain countries.
The day after the Russian invasion, the then UK Prime Minister was ready with a prepared list of sanctions against Russia and a further support package for Ukraine.
All this without any mandate from the UK electorate.
Some weeks later there were peace talks between Ukraine and Russia which resulted in a deal, interestingly a much better one than they would obtain now.
However, this was scuppered by Boris Johnson who rushed over to Ukraine on 9th April 2022 with a package of military and other support to persuade them to keep on fighting.
The result of that has been disastrous for Ukraine. Its economy is severely weakened, a quarter of its population have fled to other countries ( most to Russia) and horrendous casualties have been suffered.
The result of continuing conflict has put pressure on Russia and which country would want to have those costs and manpower losses?
However, Russia’s economy appears to be buoyant despite the sanctions. It seems to now be perceived as a strong country and one not to be in contention with.
So, unless the government knows something the rest of us don’t, their policy on Ukraine has been to weaken Russia using Ukraine, and that has failed.
The four regions which Russia has taken over, plus Crimea, have all voted in referendums to be part of Russia.
Why the change of UK policy?
But why the change of policy which was one of building up friendship and trade only a few years previously?
The public reason they have given is that it is a matter of principle and standing by an innocent country against an aggressor.
But that just does not stand up to scrutiny, Even if it did, why is not the UK standing by other countries in the world who have suffered aggression?
Why has the UK government been the aggressor in some part of the world? Iraq is one example.
It is interesting that the USA led operation in Afghanistan ended finally in embarrassing disarray at the end of October 2021.
It is almost as if the Afghan people were abandoned so that focus could be put into Ukraine.
No one asks this, but they should.
It is said that Zelensky’s regime is defending “our values.” Considering they have closed Churches, removed 12 opposition parties and several opposition media, displayed a discrimination of the Russian language, plus “postponed” overdue elections, they are not values which merit billions of our money propping them up.
The only other factor which could be a reason for being so dogmatic about Ukraine, is the recently announced 100 year partnership agreement with them.
This includes minerals deal and other trading deals. Is it because about 60% of the minerals are in areas controlled by Russia?
Surely it does not take a genius to work out that the UK can have trade agreements with both Ukraine and Russia by being peaceful.
Antagonising Russia is likely to jeopardise both possibilities, so is a very risky strategy.
The other reason for UK Ukraine policy is that politicians of all the main political parties are influenced by globalists.
That means loyalty to global corporations with real power and influence, who care only about profit and not about national identity and control.
It does explain how the whole establishment works in tandem for their interests, rather than those of the people.
It is what is known as the “deep state” at work.
It also explains what is going on in the USA under Donald Trump in that there really is a fight on for their national values.
A lot of what goes on there has been going on in the UK too.
Sir Keir Starmer and his supporters are backers of the old establishment order.
They know that the fight back in the USA could mean a fight back against them in the UK and want to stop that happening.
What has gone wrong with government Ukraine policies
So, what has gone wrong with the UK government’s Ukraine policies?
In short everything. They have wrecked Ukraine who have lost a huge chunk of their young men( at least 1.6 million casualties)
They have taken a gamble on Zelensky and harming Russia and failed.
In doing this their Russian sanctions have driven up the UK costs of living and of energy costs.
They have allowed/encouraged over 300,000 Ukrainians into the UK which are costing about a £1bn a year.
Most had not come here until after Boris Johnson scuppered the peace deal.
This is on top of the £15bn or so military and other aid given to Ukraine plus a commitment of £3bn a year.
How can this be in British interests?
Military hardware all depleted and gone to Ukraine.
Council taxes up , other taxes up, services cut, disabled benefits reducing.
Other government services being deprived of vital funds. All for the sake of standing by Ukraine!
Admittedly, this is not the only government policy blunder. There was nearly £500 bn wasted on covid, and a good £30bn on net zero.
The government has finally exposed itself as putting forward the charade of “defending democracy” and “standing with Ukraine as long as it takes.”
The reality behind the façade is that it is all about Ukraine’s minerals and other resources, and the rest is a cover.
The UK government’s 100 agreement with Ukraine signed early this year exposed a lot of the real agenda.
There was a Ukraine/EU deal signed in 2021.
Ukraine has signed a deal with Blackrock hedge fund on 5th May 2023.
It is no wonder that President Trump wants the Ukraine to sign minerals deal with the USA.
The UK policy supports privatisation of key Ukraine minerals and resources.
It means Ukrainian forces are fighting for their country to be asset stripped and to be deprived of control of their economy.
President Putin made President Trump a deal on Russia’s mineral resources, which has put the whole situation in perspective.
It seems far more logical for the UK to end Ukraine war support and to strive for peace and good relations with both Ukraine and Russia.
The attached links give more information on the mineral’s situation:
https://www.dentons.com/en/insights/articles/2024/august/20/ukraine-critical-mineralshttps://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/britain-wants-ukraines-minerals-too
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/britain-wants-ukraines-minerals-too
The alternative better way for the government on Ukraine is this:
Inform President Trump that the UK will stop trying to oppose and prevaricate on behalf of Ukraine.
That in future the UK government will strive for speedy peace with the UK’s best interests being paramount
That the UK will join the USA in seeking improvement in relations with Russia.
That the UK will immediately end military and financial aid to Ukraine.
That the UK will carry out an audit of all financial and military aid given to Ukraine.
That the UK will commit to seeking disarmament talks with Russia.
That the UK will seek positive trade relations with both Russia and Ukraine.
That all Ukrainians in the UK will be assisted in re-building their lives in their homeland
That the UK will release all sanctioned Russian assets as a gesture of goodwill.
That the UK will seek to help with the re-building of damaged areas of Ukraine.
As Sir Winston Churchill said: “Jaw Jaw is better than War war.”
Finally, the lesson from this policy blunder is to stop no platforming alternative policies.
Mistakes take longer to rectify if they are ignored or deliberately kept hidden.
Sometimes the public can hasten the government to stop doing terrible things.
The Post Office scandal is just one example.
Campaigning and petitioning can make a difference.
A petition takes 30 seconds of time.
This one is so important because it makes clear you are not happy with the current situation.
To achieve sensible policies on Ukraine please sign and share this new petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/714303
Anthony Webber
Independent Political Commentator
Campaigner for Truth, Freedom and Justice
Opinions from the Unity News Network (UNN) editorial team & various contributors. | UNN always clearly distinguishes between news and opinion pieces and as an open minded outlet we publish views from a variety of people and organisation that do not necessarily reflect the views of UNN or its writers. Articles published under UNN Opinions are always opinion pieces and if published on behalf of a contributor will contain that authors name at the start of the piece.
