So, no weekly roundup this week as I’m currently in Norway!
I’ve rejoined Bergen Hjelper Ukraina for a convoy across Europe to donate vehicles, medical aid and other vital supplies to Ukraine.
This is the second time I’m with these chaps. The first run was a dash from Kyiv to the front lines to personally deliver vehicles to Ukraine’s defenders.
The will of normal people around the world to support Ukraine never ceases to amaze me. Whilst governments have dithered, people have acted.
Although, on government, today might be a good day for Ukraine. Trump announced on Monday that the US will sell weapons to Europe to be donated as military aid. This is something that I and many others, including my friend and the excellent military analyst
(Why We Fight episode 7) have been calling and hoping for.If the reports are accurate this aid package is huge. Ten billion dollars’ worth of artillery shells, missiles and, crucially, seventeen (!) Patriot air defence systems.
The latter is a huge deal, Ukraine currently has six of these. I’ve seen the missiles from these go up to intercept Russian attacks and they’re the only tool that can reliably take down the Russian and North Korean ballistic missiles that are used almost exclusively as terror weapons to hit civilians in cities across the country. After I witnessed a large attack I called in to British radio and described what I saw, along with the gut-wrenching feeling that the missiles would not be replaced.
I have never wanted to be proven wrong more. If I am, then it means more Ukrainian lives will be saved, it blunts Putin’s terror campaigns and it will help Ukraine win the war.
There are also reports that long-range missiles may be included in the package. Trump allegedly asked if Ukraine could hit Moscow.
However, we must not get caught up in premature celebrations. Trump is a tree in the wind and often parrots the line of the person he last spoke with. A call with Putin and it could go the other way, although Melania may have something to say about that. Trump mentioned that when he celebrates a ‘good’ conversation with Putin, Melania says ‘they [the Russians] just hit another city’.
Melania is Slovenian. Eastern Europeans know what Russian terror and imperialism are, maybe her husband is listening?
Regardless of what Trump does, Ukraine will keep fighting and volunteers will keep getting aid through. We’re heading out with a small convoy of second-hand pickup trucks, to be used for logistics and as field ambulances. The last of them was painted olive drab today, I felt like it was putting on its war paint.
This is what Ukraine has that Russia does not. Ukraine has friends everywhere. Free people giving up their time, money and risking their safety to get what is needed where it’s needed.
We head out soon. I’ll keep you all updated on the ups and downs of our trip.
Democracy is Non-Negotiable