To want to help Ukraine- is there ANYTHING we can do????

[Helpforthosethatneedit]

I am just so sad watching Zelensky. He's had his country invaded by Russia, fought for survival and now he's got Trump and Vance gaslighting him. Mumsnet, there's posts every day on here about this sort of behaviour, but usually it is happening in playgrounds. Wonderful advice is given. But this is not a playground. This is the world. How can we/ the little people help? I feel so so helpless. Please give ideas? Can we do something to support Ukraine and potentially change the future?

Aibu?

Yes- frankly, we, the little people have nothing we can do to help.
No- We need to fight to help Ukraine and keep Europe safe (and here's my idea....)

PotUS has a plan to help Palestine too.

Picking a fight and losing is not the same as being attacked.

I host and I'd love someone not hosting but who wants to help to do some things with Ukrainian refugees to take their mind off of it (and so I can have a break to be honest because the emotional stress is so tough after so long). Arrange regular walks, craft classes, friendly ears etc. Like a companion.

Find your local Ukranian centre or hotspot and ask if you can help. It would be much appreciated.

Also they are always doing something - arranging marches, knitting for soldiers, collecting shoeboxes for donations, organising concerts, running fundraisers. Always lots to do.

Helping anyone still unemployed to find a job would really help too. Lots of them in London because competition for min wage jobs is still quite fierce.

We need to give them back their nuclear weapons now that the security guarantee they received to get rid of them has gone.

No it isn’t. The conflicted area has had 70 years to find its own peace. Go and start your own thread. I don’t care about Palestine. Everything that is happening there is a consequence of the actions undertaken by the terrorist organisation the people of Palestine elected into power.

If Trump on Sea it’s to be then so be it.

Uk and eu could take the US deal with Ukraine in place of America

Honestly, you just do what you can. Sometimes you move things forward, sometimes you stop them getting worse and sometimes you fail, but you have to try.

What American goods can we boycott? I've decided not to go to the US whilst Trump is president. I was asked to travel there for work, it was optional and so I've declined amd said due to family reasons as I have a baby. But actually, I would have enjoyed some business class flights and a trip to new York.

Amazon and PayPal would be a good start

If you're thinking of practical help, the best cost / outcome efficiency is donating not to larger multinational charities (especially the Red Cross in Ukraine are utterly useless), but to one of many smaller initiatives who would really appreciate even a tiny donation, or a banger of a car that just takes space. British Ukrainian Aid, Jeeps for Peace, Car4Ukraine etc etc, I can give you a dozen names easily - I am more involved on the cars / ambulances side, but there are charities doing all kinds of staff.
Even if you want to come and help make tea and cake at one of regular fundraising events that would be a massive help.

Other than that, spread the truth on social media and offline. Share, ask questions, don't forget. Even with this post you've already done something.

Well I’d be willing to pay more taxes if it to support Ukraine. They’re fighting Russia on behalf of us all, and principles of freedom I believe in.

I have cancelled my subscriptions to Netflix, Prime and Audible and told them that I have cancelled because of Trump's disgusting behaviour. No idea if it will help but it's all I can think of right now.

Would you be willing to fight yourself or send your family members?

We can't. I wish we could but we are so painfully unprepared for direct conflict with Russia. We need to stall and make urgent investment.

Even worse, a lot most of our military equipment (which we do not even have enough of) will only work for so long as the US supports it (they control the software).

Not to defend Ukraine, but I absolutely would to defend my own country. I expect that’s how the Ukrainians feel, and I want to support them in doing so.

This.
He's a total self agrandising dictator who has got very rich from all of this.

I'm all for helping Palestine but this thread isn't about that. Shall we also ask how can help all of the other victims of everything going on in the world?

@potatopaws well they are welcome to go back and defend their country at any time. The reality is Vance was correct and the Ukraine are rapidly running out of boots on the ground.

Me too. I'll be trying to avoid anything American as much as possible.

As if there aren't a dozen or more threads already 🙄

Mumsnet need a derailing policy for threads like this. So many people want to chime in with unrelated political campaigns and opinions, or just general garbage. It shouldn't be allowed it's not a race to the bottom and people can start their own threads on these issues instead of comparing or derailing others, if they care that much.

I agree op. I want to do more for Ukraine. You can donate directly to the Ukrainian military, this isn't just humanitarian aid (which just funds none military things like food, fresh water and clothing) they can spend it on anything. https://u24.gov.ua/

I would also be happy to pay more taxes to support Ukraine. They are fighting a war alone that protects all of Europe. We are the last hold out now for real democracy.

On a personal note I was speaking to a friend in Turkey today about how insane and right wing the world has become. It is like everybody has forgotten.

Nobody on here is dumb enough to believe this, perhaps there's somewhere else you could more productively try to peddle this BS?

I doubt they will march or any sort of protest, considering Trump recently threatened to deport any international students participating in pro-Palestine activity.

”land of the free” indeed.

if you aren’t an American citizen in the current climate you don’t want to be doing anything to risk your visa

i am following alt.parks on social media who are coming up with some ideas for the resistance- publishing emails and suggesting everyone emails in five things they did this week, not just federal employees.

currently people are calling the Ukrainian embassy in the us and leaving reviews for Ukrainian businesses to express their support, even if there’s nothing practical to do.

So today’s Russian bot line is about attacking Zelenskyy personally, is it? Always good to have an update on what the idiot stooges are pedaling.

Thanks OP for a thread lots of us were wanting. I think the point about telling your MP that your support for Ukraine is undiminished is really important. They need to know how strongly we feel.

Totally agree with this. We have to tell our mps.