The main political parties in the United Kingdom, from Labour through to Reform are arguing that it is necessary to be ready for a Russian attack on European countries because Putin will not stop at occupying Ukraine. Russia is unable to take Kyiv in the foreseeable future and would not repeat this adventure in another country in Europe. But this does not stop them from encouraging separatist movements, spreading disinformation in various countries, and even testing defences by actions such as sending 19 drones into Poland.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 by occupying Crimea, and launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia has also increasingly been shackling countries on its periphery, such as Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, into its geopolitical orbit. This has strong parallels with what the US does with countries in Central and Latin America, and is now threatening Greenland, and even Canada.
Until Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s imperialist actions were tolerated because they did not impinge on Western imperialism’s own actions and sphere of influence. But for European governments, Russia’s full-scale invasion was a step too far. Their support for Ukraine is because their geostrategic interests were threatened, not for altruistic reasons such as the defence of democracy and self-determination for the people of Ukraine, something they do not support in practice for Palestinians. Russia’s imperialist invasion of Ukraine is similar to the US actions in kidnapping Venezuela President Maduro, or the bombing of Iran. It is for changing the regime to one that is loyal to the interests of Russian imperialism.
No increase in defence spending
The noise about a Russian threat, even possibly a military one, against Western bourgeois democracy and liberal values is being used to justify increased military spending, conscription and militarism. This increase is real with the push for increased defence budgets up to 5% of GDP, advertisements on public transport to enrol in the army, more frequent visits by the army to schools and talk about conscription and military service. There is even a forthcoming BBC TV show with former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and former Tory Minister Michael Gove at the head of a fictional UK government at war with Russia!
We support the people of Ukraine in their fight for independence and self-determination in the face of Russian imperialist occupation and annexation, but state clearly that the current increased militarisation by the West has to be opposed. An increased defence budget in Britain will come from cuts in welfare and public services. This is because Labour has promised it will not raise taxes and will continue to stick to its fiscal rules by not borrowing.
There is no need to increase the defence budget to actively support Ukraine. Hugely expensive nuclear weapons are not necessary. Arms sent to Israel for its genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians should be stopped and given instead to Ukraine. The best way to stop the perceived threat to the rest of Europe is to prevent Russia from winning in Ukraine. This entails supplying it with the military means necessary and cancelling its debt to allow a socially just reconstruction.
While opposing the British and US imperialist war drive and supporting Palestinians, the Stop the War Coalition conference was almost silent on the war in Ukraine. The organisers of the conference see the world mainly threatened by the most powerful imperialism, that of the US and its NATO allies. The conference declaration only condemned “governments … that have fuelled the horrific bloodbath and obstructed a ceasefire in Ukraine”. But there was no condemnation of the Russian invasion, or a call for Russia to withdraw.
No equal responsibility
The Stop the War approach treats the two sides as equal in terms of responsibility for the war and war crimes and is neutral about the outcome of the war. It sees no prospect of freedom and independence for Ukraine, only domination by either western or Russian imperialism. There was no recognition that Russia has repeatedly refused unconditional ceasefires proposed by Zelenski. This year alone, there was several offers of such a ceasefire, the latest one in early June. All were refused by Putin who argued there could be no ceasefire until the fundamental issues (for Putin) were resolved including Ukraine withdrawing from the whole of the Donbass and drastically reducing its armed forces.
The conference refused to invite speakers from the Ukrainian trade unions and the left who are resisting both the invasion and the neoliberalism of the Zelenski government. The people of Ukraine also want peace, but they don’t want occupation and enforced Russification, so for them military resistance is necessary until they obtain a just peace, not one imposed by a deal between Putin and Trump.
The multi-polar world of rival imperialisms is a dangerous one. Sometimes they will co-exist relatively amicably. But in a time of deepening climate and economic crisis, there is a drive to war as they each seek to maintain and expand their geostrategic interests. An anti-war movement which focuses mainly on the threat from the most powerful imperialist country and its allies will be weaker. The anti-war movement should be in solidarity with all people fighting against occupation and annexation of their country, regardless of the character of their governments, and of which imperialist power is attacking them.