You are all aware of the ongoing, violent Russian invasion of Ukraine. Putin claims he is going in to ‘de-Nazify’ the country and stop genocide, but Ukraine’s President, Volodomyr Zelenskiy, is Jewish. He lost family members in the Holocaust. His political party is a centrist, liberal democratic one.

Vladimir Putin, in contrast – the very man making the accusations – is a fascist. He follows various fascist Russian philosophers. Hitler’s fascism was defined as ‘National Socialism’; Putin’s fascism is described as ‘National Conservatism’ – which in basic terms, means that he is unequivocally to the far right of Hitler.

We should not vilify Russia, or demonise the Russian people – this is all on Putin. Russians are being arrested and beaten up in their hundreds for daring to say that this war is wrong.

Putin’s army is not only bombing military targets, but has also bombed residential apartments and hospitals – even an orphanage was hit. Following on from other conflicts that Putin has engaged in, bombing civilians is in line with his strategy of terrorising the population.

He will not stop at Ukraine, but will probably go on further to Moldova. He has threatened to attack Sweden and Finland if they express the intent to join NATO. He has threatened ‘consequences you have never experienced before’ (i.e. nuclear strikes) if any power in the West tries to stop him. We have not seen such a threat to the peace of Europe since World War 2.

And if China sees that the West cannot do anything to stop Putin, Communist China will be emboldened to invade Taiwan. What the West does or does not do in response to Putin’s invasion will have global consequences.

I am no politician or military strategist, so I am not going to propose a solution. I can only pray that God will enable the people of Ukraine to defend themselves – which they have so far done bravely and courageously; that they will receive tacit and covert assistance that will help them better defend themselves, but will not provoke Putin to do something stupid; and that Ukraine will survive and thrive as a free and independent nation.

May YHVH show God’s glory to the Nations by enabling the weaker side to defend themselves against the strong, and to prevail against all odds. May YHVH instil unwavering courage in the people of Ukraine, and wisdom in her leaders. May YHVH move the leaders of other nations to give the right assistance to Ukraine – assistance that will make a real difference.

Let us also pray that YHVH will not only contain Putin’s madness, but also curtail it and bring it to judgment; and that war will not spread to the rest of Europe. May YHVH give wisdom to western leaders, that their actions will be prudent and well-thought out.

Beloved YHVH, we know that You can see all possibilities, and You know the consequences of each action that countries take. Please protect and shield the people of Ukraine, hold back the forces of Putin’s army, and bring this war to an end. May the manner of its end display Your greatness, and be according to Your will.

May YHVH preserve us all in peace, and may God save Ukraine. Боже бережи Україну! Bozhe berezhy Ukrayinu!

Blessed be YHVH, God of all Nations! Amein.