Europe at the crossroads – again

Putin has united a fractious Europe against him, and every day the brave Ukrainian defenders withstand the Russian onslaught, the pressure for Putin to return to the negotiating table ramps up.

Beauty and the beast

Russia cares nothing for international law, the sovereignty of other states, the lives of civilians or the wrath of the rest of the world. It is little surprise therefore that Ukraine’s priceless cultural heritage is becoming yet another victim of its brutal war.

Russia’s nuclear bluster

Vladimir Putin’s threat that NATO intervention to save Ukraine from his clutches would inevitably lead to nuclear war is as hollow as every other statement he makes, but is still proving effective at staying the West’s hand.

Russia’s bloodbath in Ukraine

Russia is suffering a heavy rate of casualties at the hands of determined Ukranian resistance, provoking memories of the Soviet folly in Afghanistan which provoked similar international outrage over 40 years ago.

It’s time for action to save Ukraine

With the situation in Ukraine reaching a critical point, Western democracies must back their rhetoric with action to force the Russian invaders back behind their borders once again.

Nine observations on the war in Ukraine

A week and a half since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, here are nine observations on developments in the worst war in Europe since 1945 – not least that NATO air power could have turned Russia’s long and lumbering convoys into mincemeat.

Putin’s mini-me in Belarus

Russia has few friends left in the world, but controlled by its own hard-line dictator for 28 years, Belarus is a client state which not only supports the invasion but is actively fighting on Russia’s side.

Tech giants put the squeeze on Russia

The high sounding moral principles often espoused by major technology firms seldom reflect their actual activities or intentions, but even the ‘big 5’ are now putting the squeeze on an increasingly isolated Russia.

The world signs up for Ukraine’s cyber army

Over a quarter of a million people around the world have joined Ukraine’s ‘cyber-army’ to respond to the Russian cyber attacks and propaganda that accompanied its invasion of Ukraine. It’s time for Australia to aid the fight, rather than hinder it.

Lies, damned lies, and Russian propaganda

Terrified of the truth and his own people, as all dictators, are Vladimir Putin is locked in a vicious struggle not only to subjugate Ukraine, but also to keep the Russian people in line through limiting information about the war to official lies and propaganda.

Putin’s MAD option

Russia’s massive nuclear arsenal, and Putin’s professed willingness to use them, has stayed the West’s hand in helping Ukraine, but an increasingly crazed Putin might use them against Kiev, knowing the West might not respond.

Europe turns blue and gold for Ukraine

After two decades of ignoring or appeasing Vladimir Putin’s bluster and aggression, European leaders have finally faced the reality of the angry and voracious bear on their borders.