It is six months to the day since Vladimir Putin launched his brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This marked a major escalation of the conflict which began in 2014 when Russia invaded and then annexed Crimea.
The Russian army, despite huge advantages in weaponry and manpower, failed in its core aim to seize Kyiv and overrun the country in weeks. But Putin has enacted a terrible toll on the people of Ukraine.
From reports of war crimes committed in Bucha to the capture and forced transportation of civilians, including children, to remote cities in Russia, the worst of humanity has been all too clear.
But August 24 also marks Ukraine’s Independence Day, celebrating the country’s declaration of independence in 1991. Since then, and to this day, Ukrainians have fought to build a modern, democratic and free nation-state. Of course, in the last six months, they have also been forced to fight for their very existence.
Putin continues to pay a heavy price for his miscalculation. His forces have seized significant territory but suffered huge losses. James Heappey, the UK’s Armed Forces Minister, this morning estimated 80,000 had been “killed, wounded, captured, gone missing or deserted”.
Russian military progress has ground to a virtual halt, with its army bracing itself for likely Ukrainian counter attacks.
Britain can be proud of its contribution to the war effort in terms of arms, expertise and cash. We must continue in this vein, because their fight is our fight too. At the same time, it is clear that the consequences of this war have spread far beyond the borders of Ukraine.
Energy effect
The price of gas, both in Britain and across Europe, has soared. The new energy price cap, set to be announced on Friday, is likely to rise by 80 per cent to more than £3,500 a year, and is only climbing higher. At these levels, many people on lower and even middle incomes will be simply unable to pay. Many businesses, which do not benefit from any price cap, will go to the wall, exacerbating the economic crisis.
That is why the next Prime Minister must take urgent action to support households and firms. Thus far, both leadership candidates have preferred to back off from policy detail. But time is running out.
And ministers must not shy away from demand management — helping people to use less — not only to reduce costs but also our reliance on fossil fuels.
This battle is not without sacrifice. Most clearly for the Ukrainian people, who have suffered terrible casualties, but also for the wider European continent and indeed the free world. But it is a battle that we must win.
Water at a premium
A hosepipe ban for London came into effect one minute after midnight this morning for 10 million Thames Water customers.
While we urge Londoners to comply with the new rule, it is also right that water companies stick to their word and fix the leaks that have flooded the capital’s streets in the last few weeks.
From the discharge of effluence into our beautiful coasts to the wasting of water, the utility companies must lead by example.
