THE EDITOR: We read the commentary by Dr Errol Benjamin in the local media outlets on Friday with great interest. We are appalled by his unfounded claim about the supposed equivalence between Russia and the West, and a seemingly identical indifference to human suffering in Ukraine after the unprovoked and unjustified military invasion.
Firstly, Benjamin ignores the last week's historical, unprecedented reaction of the international community where 141 UN member states, including TT, condemned Russia's actions at the UN General Assembly.
Further, the international community, including countries that are outside the concept of the West, is managing an historic, never-before-seen level of support to Ukraine.
There has been unprecedented imposition of sanctions, including: the disconnection of certain Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system; Germany's reversal of its decision, a historic policy change, of never sending weapons to conflict zones; the EU's unprecedented unblocking of some €500 million for EU members states to buy arms for Ukraine's armed forces; and the cutting of purchases of Russian oil and gas, both now and for the foreseeable future, to achieve a permanent reduction in dependency upon Russian oil and gas.
Even historically neutral EU countries, Austria, Sweden, Ireland, Finland, Malta and, perhaps the world's most famous neutral country, Switzerland, are outraged and providing support.
Putin has already lost the propaganda war. This is already a gigantic strike back against those who are active in promoting 'post-truth' and not just in this war.
The consequences of Putin's war are fixed in history, to the detriment of all of Putin's hierarchy.
It is to be hoped that the technical military assistance and equipment provided will allow the Ukrainians more air defence capabilities.
Benjamin also fails to recognise the courage of ordinary Russians who are protesting against Putin's war, at great personal and professional cost.
Lastly, Benjamin should reflect when he uses the term indifference on the billions provided by the West in humanitarian and development aid. The EU alone is the world's largest donor of cash for humanitarian and developmental aid (in TT alone, the EU has invested €300 million in its 46 years of operation in this beautiful and partner country), during the covid19 crisis more vaccines were exported from Europe than given to Europeans. Others in the international community, too many to list here, have done the same.
I wish to correct one historical inaccuracy from Benjamin's comment: Anne Frank is one of the strongest symbols of the suffering of the Jewish people during World War II and is associated with the Dutch resistance, rather than Belgian.
In addition, in the context of Putin's occupation of parts of neighbouring countries, the author states that Putin invaded the former Czech Republic. We do not know what the author aims at, the Czech Republic is by no means the former, nor is it the subject of an invasion by Putin's army.
PETER CA
