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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
John Healey

The Tories ignored Labour’s warnings on Russia - then came the invasion

The aftermath of a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The aftermath of a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on 14 March 2022. The British government’s integrated review in March 2021 ‘failed to mention any Taliban takeover in Afghanistan or invasion of Ukraine’ Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

President Putin’s merciless invasion of Ukraine gravely violates international law and UN conventions. Ukrainians are showing massive bravery but Russia has such crushing firepower and utter ruthlessness that we can expect more of Putin’s military objectives to be taken in the weeks ahead.

Whatever short-term gains he secures, we must make sure that Putin fails in the longer run through Ukrainian resistance, tougher sanctions, more humanitarian help, wider international isolation, justice for the war crimes being committed and, above all, lasting western unity in confronting Russia’s aggression.

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