Picture: Every Night for Ukraine 022 Russian Embassy Finland. Author: rajatonvimma /// VJ Group Random Doctors
A humanitarian crisis is unfolding before us following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine. The risk of a major military conflict is remote but real, and the situation on the ground continues to change. We asked our contributors how they think Putin’s aggression will impact politics and policies in the UK and what if any changes are needed?
“The Putin gambit of ‘I will stop destroying if you change the government’ is unlikely to be taken BECAUSE that would be a green light to China vs Taiwan and every other dictator”
Gavin Palmer, independent candidate for Mayor of Croydon.
As is common in conflict a calmer narrative prevails as both sides join in condemning Russia, and with Partygate going quiet as bigger things are afoot. Hopefully, Trump will be condemned by the Republicans and side lined to fringes. I expect military spending will rise on missile anti-tank defences and gas masks might be needed in mass production and delivery as gassing those hiding in cellars is a Putin tactic used before. Putin’s efforts to induce ethnic cleansing of non-Russia supporting citizens fleeing the country will go widespread, so that it’s only the men left to kill. Maybe a select time for Polish Migs to move over and tear up the convoy that’s preferring to have Kyiv empty first. This depends on Russian air defence and mass capital assault/pilots.
The Putin gambit of ‘I will stop destroying if you change the government’ is unlikely to be taken BECAUSE that would be a green light to China vs Taiwan and every other dictator emboldened by the power of internet tracking and messaging to the level of the individual. As to whether Putin is killed or the army, or people revolt, or sue for peace after losing parts of the country is an uncertain probability 50:50.
The changes needed are to ramp up to producing 100,000s maybe millions of gas masks with delivery to the people of Ukraine, gas warning systems, supply line and fuel truck destruction, start the creation of portable electronic decoy making maybe (accepting the risk of losing the technology in war). I’m sure the replacement of anti-tank weapons is in production. We also need as a contingency, a supply of missiles stocked for Taiwan.
There should be a ramp up of Potash mining in Whitby by Anglo American Sirius Minerals, if possible, by whatever means, including 24 hour mining perhaps using the new plasma rock melting technology to offset losses in Ukraine.
Maybe ask wheat cropping areas Norfolk, Chichester to ramp up planting, and using other crop areas to offset wheat disruption and losses in Ukraine in time for the summer.
We need to retake control of uncompetitive gas electricity generators and gas storage facilities, to make greater use of them. We should also boost solar panel installs, wind power, plus promote hybrid heat exchanger/gas boiler solutions. We could maybe make changes on money laundering into Golden London Bricks to free up housing as squatters’ rights powers have diminished.
Personally, I would consider the Belgian refugee solution from WW2 where a Central Service of Refugees was established to provide them with material assistance and to organise. Otherwise, we have a yet further migration strain on the country issue.