The Frome and Somerton MP David Warburton writes:

As we pour over details of various Downing Street festivities, rather more dangerous developments have slipped, almost unnoticed, to the sidelines. The very real threat of war is brewing in the heart of Europe – a situation which, should events continue to escalate, will certainly affect us all.

From Russia's annexations of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, along with its alleged involvement in the Salisbury's Novichok poisoning in 2018, the alleged poisoning of opposition leader Navalny as well as Litvinenko in London, it is starkly clear that President Putin is wholly contemptuous of international peace and security.

The Defence Secretary recently announced that the UK, in light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia and in addition to our current support, is now providing new security assistance to increase Ukraine's defensive capabilities. This support includes the supplying of light, anti-armour, defensive weapon systems and the deployment of a small number of UK personnel to provide training for a short period of time.

Ukraine is integral to the bigger picture of European stability, and our support for Ukraine's sovereignty is – without question - essential to our own security. It is incumbent on all European nations and global superpowers to curtail Putin's maniacal desire for expanding power into Europe.

Moreover, supporting Ukraine and the people of Ukraine is also a moral imperative. Historically, Russia has always both coveted and also threatened Ukraine, taking the view that 'Ukrainians and Russians are the same peoples.'

This is of course fundamentally untrue, with Ukraine neighbouring Russia but fully European with its distinct language, culture, and values. But Ukraine has always struggled to establish a permanent identity because of the colonial thirst of successive Russian Governments.

As I write, Russia has massed 127,000 troops and tanks on Ukraine's border, and they continue to bring in reserves from the central and eastern military districts. Should they move in, it's hard to predict just how much pain and bloodshed will be inflicted on the people of Ukraine. This will then impact Europe in an almost domino effect because – as Putin well knows - Europe will be the home of a destabilised country under Russian influence.

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It is our moral responsibility to do all in our power to preserve the integrity of Ukraine and support them in their defence efforts. Ukraine is a country which has never posed a risk to any other sovereign territory. Its only misfortune is to neighbour Russia.

It is incumbent on all of Europe, the United States and NATO to use every means possible to prevent Putin from breaching international law. An attack on Ukraine is an attack on all of us.