Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Member of the Senedd has called on Wales to stand in solidarity with Ukraine amid continued threats to its independence by the Russian Government. This morning Dodds submitted a Statement of Opinion to the Senedd in support of Ukraine which can now be signed by other members.
Commenting, Dodds said:
“Now more than ever, the rules-based international order is
under threat. After years of hybrid warfare, threats and provocations, which
tragically have seen over 13,000 casualties in the last few years, a further
Russian incursion into Ukraine now looks like a serious possibility. Russia’s
amassing of over 130,000 troops on the Ukrainian border may seem like a
far-flung conflict for many in Wales, but we must be unwavering in our support
for the freedom of Ukraine or come to face the consequences in the
future.
“The liberal values that have underpinned European peace
security for generations, namely the respect for a rules-based international
order, the right to national self-determination, international law and
democracy are now directly under threat. This should deeply worry any liberal
or democrat.
“We cannot allow Europe, or the world, to return to an age
where large authoritarian states can use military action to force smaller
democratic states to do their bidding. This type of system only leads to chaos,
destruction and great suffering. If this type of violent order is allowed to
re-establish itself, where is next? Where does it end? Moldova, Georgia and the
Baltics would immediately be placed under increased threat.
“Ukrainians are not the property of Russia, or more
specifically Putin and his cronies despite the effort of Putin’s regime to
invoke imperialist propaganda of Russians and Ukrainians being “one people”.
The people of Ukraine have the democratic right to decide what direction their
country goes in.
“Ukraine has undergone a dramatic transition since the fall
of the Soviet Union into a vibrant democracy. Two people’s revolutions in 2004
and 2014, driven by young people, saw the country rise up against
authoritarianism, kleptocracy and corruption. These revolutions sent fear into
the heart of Putin’s regime. For all the bravado, Putin himself as the head of
a corrupt network of oligarchs remains vulnerable to such revolutions himself.
It is therefore little wonder he is seeking to dismantle this new
Ukraine.
“We in Wales must show we stand in solidarity with the
Ukrainian people in their fight to remain free. Should we not, we could see our
security and economic stability threatened like never before. Wales must
also be prepared to take in Ukrainian refugees should the worst come to
pass.
“Within the UK, we urgently need the Conservative Government
in Westminster to urgently clean up Russian money-laundering operations in the
UK, not least in London and in their own party.
“Despite all this, we mustn’t despair, we can find peace and
Russia with its weak economy can be strong-armed into coming back from the
brink through diplomacy and the threat of hard-hitting economic sanctions. But
we must also remain resolute, and in the age of weaponised disinformation by
states such as Russia, ensure we keep our eyes on our guiding principles of
democracy, freedom and cooperation.
The statement of opinion read:
This Senedd:
1) Recognises the longstanding historical ties between
Wales and Ukraine.
2) Re-affirms its recognition that Ukraine is a free and
independent nation, which has the right to choose its own direction in the
world.
3) Recognises and respects Ukraine's sovereignty and
its borders, which tragically have seen over 13,000 casualties in the last few
years.
4) Calls on the Russian Government to desist from
further threats to the territorial and political integrity of Ukraine.
5) Supports the continuation of democracy in Ukraine.
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