Small and simple things we can do to support Ukraine.

[LifeIsWhat]

A brain storm post really. Rather than being anxious, can we do anything, however small to support/show support to Ukraine.

• I texted my formal Ukraine colleague, who is the loveliest girl, that she can call me at any time if she is too stressed and need a chat/meet up.
• I clicked the 'support sign' on Ukraine related linkedin post (the only social media I am on), so more people can see them.
• If there is an anti war/support Ukraine protest, I would join.

I know they are tiny things, but at least it made a difference for one person. That is better than zero. Please share your ideas and things you have done that are helpful.

Anyway, this thread is about helping Ukrainians, I won't derail it further.

supermoonrising

Unless you want to invade a country, why would NATO be any threat to you whatsoever?

To suggest we should all be prepared to die to save Ukraine is madness. Us getting involved won’t actually help Ukraine, it could end the world. Which is why nobody is stupid enough to get involved

I really do get this argument but it applies equally if he invaded Latvia, Poland, Finland, Sweden etc etc

So we allow him regain the old Soviet (and beyond) empire because to do anything risks nuclear war?

I agree that politically there is a lot more to this than the media are reporting.

I think it’s also worth looking at how this is playing out. Russia is having a much harder time here than they IMO thought they would. Yesterday there were 3500 russian casualties compared to about 10% of that in Ukraine.

I can’t help wondering how this would all have played out if Donald Trump had still beein in power in the US. It was well known that he and Putin had a close relationship.

I think it’s also worth looking at how this is playing out. Russia is having a much harder time here than they IMO thought they would.

Only because they haven't brought out the big guns yet.

A few anonymous drone strikes on key Russian military targets is the least the West could do tbh.

Wallywobbles I would like to donate to the army if you would please donate your link.

@musicalfrog

I think it’s also worth looking at how this is playing out. Russia is having a much harder time here than they IMO thought they would.

Only because they haven't brought out the big guns yet.

A few anonymous drone strikes on key Russian military targets is the least the West could do tbh.

You mean declare war on Russia?

@OhYouBadBadKitten

There's a protest in London. Saturday 12pm, Sunday 2pm, outside Downing street.

Protest?

What I dont understand is why the "west" , Europe etc dont intervene? We have gone into Iraq and Afghanistan under the premise of establishing democracy but yet won't help an already democratic country fight for its future?

Because a war against Russia would be completely different to wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

So we allow him regain the old Soviet (and beyond) empire because to do anything risks nuclear war? in a word? yes.

political sanctions etc is all that we can and should do. I guarantee that support for Ukraine would rapidly disappear if our own sons and husbands were being called up to fight and our own lives were under threat.

The thing with there being powerful nations in the world is that not all that power is on our side.

As things currently stand we won’t go into Russia because that would then mean nuclear war. Equally Russia aren’t going to go into countries who are part of Nato because that would equally cause nuclear war.

@DolphinFC it just feels wrong not doing anything while good people are dying every day. And if Russia remain unchallenged and move into new targets then maybe we're losing valuable time... I don't know what the answer is, I'm glad not to be in charge but feeling so helpless is awful.

Grateful for the ideas on this thread so that individuals can take some action to feel like we're doing something useful. But still

Surely the best thing we can do is lobby to have this changed (I’ve seen it reported several times now so assume it’s true!)

www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/uk-refugee-route-ukraine-russia-invasion-313617/amp/

Pandai - to support Ukrainians and reject Putins war.

It does appear to be true, CPDubs - I emailed my MP about it yesterday to essentially ask what the fuck Patel is thinking. Loads of countries are waiving the requirement for visas for Ukrainians, and we are suspending them?! That woman is nasty.

I don't think LINKEDIN will help

Ive emailed my mp about the visa thing.

@OhYouBadBadKitten

Pandai - to support Ukrainians and reject Putins war.

What's the point of British people doing this though? Boris himself has already condemned it, it's clear where Britain stands.

I get that it's a show of solidarity for the Unkranian people, but it's not a 'protest'.

Call it a demonstration then. For flips sake, people will argue over anything, rather than understanding the spirit.

One thing we can all do is lobby our mps to allow Ukrainian refugees in, without visas. If we want Ukrainians to be able to defend their country, they need to be able to do so knowing their elderly and children are safe.

@Grumpsy

A really simple thing this government could do is to launch a resettlement scheme for refugees who have been displaced.

You could write to your MP about that. There are currently 5m who have fled, I feel the Uk should take at least 10%.

The UN estimates that the war could result in 5m leaving Ukraine. Not that they’ve already left. Estimate is 100,000 have already left.

I don’t disagree at all with your point about the UK accepting refugees, just wanted to clarify the numbers.

Thank you for starting this thread. Given the recent UN vote I was also thinking of ways to boycott china, India etc

[quote istandwithukraine]@AlternativePerspective

So we are only prepared to defend democratic values when the threat of retaliation is "small" - I guess that makes us look like cowards really? Western nations and America should be ashamed [/quote]
you want a nuclear war??

This is the template letter from a link further upthread:

Dear MP,
Please support Ukraine in response to the ongoing Russian invasion
I am writing to you as one of your constituents to express my concern over Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
Russia full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in the early hours of 24 February. Their military is using tanks, aviation and rocket launchers. The attacks target Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk and other major Ukrainian cities. Since 2014, 14,000 people have been killed in Russia’s war. Many more, including civilians, are being killed in this renewed invasion.
There are many Ukrainians in the UK, including in our constituency, who have been profoundly affected by this war. Many have lost loved ones or been forced from their homes.
What makes the situation more painful is the knowledge that London is used by Russian oligarchs and politicians, people directly or indirectly responsible for this war, to hide their (often illegitimate) wealth. All this represents a direct extension of the violent corruption of the Russian state into the heart of British democracy.
The United Kingdom is Ukraine’s strategic partner and long-standing friend. I am grateful for all the UK and international support Ukraine is receiving, and I am pleased that there has been cross-party cooperation in Parliament in trying to help Ukraine. Please could I urge you to push the Prime Minister and the UK Government to go even further in response to the Russian invasion, and call for the following:
In the immediate term:
• With NATO allies, introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine, effective immediately, to stop Russian airstrikes on civilian areas
• Follow the example of the Irish Government (and others in Europe) and lift all visa requirements for Ukrainians coming to the UK escaping danger in their home country
• Disconnect Russia from SWIFT
• Implement even stronger sanctions, more visa bans and asset freezes on Kremlin-linked figures and companies.
• Continue to support Ukraine with weapons, protective equipment, fuel, and whatever else necessary to counter the biggest army in the continent
In the medium term:
• isolate Russia in all possible international fora
• increase aid to Ukraine (financial and military)
• support further integration of Ukraine into western structures (EU, NATO)
• condemn agents of disinformation such as RT, whose headquarters are in London
The situation in Ukraine is absolutely critical and Ukrainians need all the support they can get from their allies in the West. I urge you to support all measures that will help Ukraine and European security.
Yours sincerely,

[quote Olden]ukrainianinstitute.org.uk/russias-war-against-ukraine-what-can-you-do-to-support-ukraine-ukrainians/[/quote]
The letter template came from this ^ website.

Maybe encourage your sons and daughters to form an international brigade and go and fight.