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Dear John,

Today marks the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - a solemn milestone in what has become Europe's bloodiest conflict since the Second World War. As we reflect on these three years of courage and resilience shown by the Ukrainian people, we must also contemplate the profound implications this war holds not just for Ukraine, but for democracy worldwide and the international order we have worked so hard to build.

The images from Ukraine continue to haunt us: bombed apartment buildings, destroyed hospitals, villages reduced to rubble. Behind these images are millions of lives upended - families separated, homes abandoned, and countless lives lost. Yet, amidst this devastation, we have witnessed extraordinary determination. Ukraine has not only survived against overwhelming odds but has shown that its commitment to freedom and sovereignty remains as strong as ever.

Three years ago, the Western response was swift and decisive. Nations rallied together with unprecedented unity, imposing severe sanctions on Russia, providing military aid to Ukraine, and offering diplomatic backing on the world stage. That unity represented our collective understanding that what was happening in Ukraine was an assault not merely on one nation, but on the fundamental principles that underpin our international system.

Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The unity that characterised the early response has begun to fracture. The return of Donald Trump to the White House has brought a previously inconceivable shift in American foreign policy, with apparent intent to disengage from European security matters. European nations, meanwhile, grapple with domestic political pressures, economic challenges, and war fatigue among their populations. Some voices now call for Ukraine to accept territorial losses in exchange for peace - a dangerous proposition that history warns us against.

The historical parallel is impossible to ignore. In 1938, the Munich Agreement - what Winston Churchill called "a total and unmitigated defeat" - sought peace through appeasement. By allowing Hitler to annex portions of Czechoslovakia, world leaders naively hoped to satisfy his territorial ambitions. We know how that story ended. Rather than bringing peace, appeasement only emboldened aggression, leading to far greater bloodshed within a year.

We stand at a similar precipice today. A settlement that rewards Russia's aggression with territorial gains would not bring lasting peace - it would merely pause the conflict while signalling to authoritarian regimes worldwide that military force and the violation of international law carry few consequences. The precedent this would set extends far beyond Ukraine's borders. From Taiwan to the Baltic states, from the South China Sea to the Middle East, the world is watching to see whether aggression is rewarded or resisted.

For the United Kingdom, despite our own significant domestic challenges, this moment demands steadfastness. Our nation has always prided itself on being a stalwart against tyranny, even when others looked away. That clarity and courage is needed now more than ever. While no one underestimates the complexity of this conflict or the difficulty of the path ahead, we must recognise that true and lasting peace cannot be built on injustice or the abandonment of principles.

The stakes could not be higher. This is not merely about the fate of one nation. This is about the kind of world we wish to inhabit and wish to leave to our children - one where borders are respected and disputes resolved through diplomacy, or one where brute force dominates and powerful nations can redraw maps at will.

Across Ukraine, brave people continue to defend not just their homeland but the very principles we in Britain hold dear: democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the right of nations to determine their own future. THEIR courage demands OUR continued commitment, even as that commitment grows more challenging to sustain.

As we mark this somber anniversary, I invite you to reflect on what this struggle means - not just for Ukraine but for all who believe in a rules-based international order. While military aid and sanctions dominate headlines, equally important is sustaining public support for Ukraine's right to exist as a free and independent nation. That is where each of us has a role to play: in conversations with friends and family, in letters to MPs, in keeping Ukraine in our collective consciousness even as other equally important crises compete for attention.

We have to be realistic, though: there are no easy answers. The path to a just peace will be long and fraught with difficulty. But history teaches us that the alternative - allowing aggression to succeed - ultimately leads to more instability and human suffering. Peace achieved through appeasement is not peace at all, but rather a prelude to future conflict.

On this day of reflection, we honour the extraordinary resilience of the Ukrainian people - their courage in defending their homeland, their determination to preserve their democracy, and their unwavering belief in a better future despite unimaginable hardship. Their fight reminds us that freedom and democracy are never guaranteed; they must be defended anew by each generation.

Whatever challenges lie ahead, whatever shifts occur in the international landscape, one thing must remain constant: our commitment to stand with those defending the values we hold dear. The Ukrainian people have shown they will never surrender their freedom. We must show equal resolve in supporting their fight.

Open Britain stands with Ukraine. Now, and always.

All the best,

Mark Kieran

Chief Executive
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