In this week’s edition of Behind the Headlines, we will be discussing the horrific invasion of Ukraine by Putin’s military forces that has shocked the world. For weeks we witnessed the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine borders and then on Thursday 24th February the Russian army invaded Ukraine from Belarus.

Since then, we have seen the advancement of Russian troops and shelling of Ukraine’s major cities including the capital Kiev. We have seen incredible bravery and courage from Ukrainian forces and ordinary civilians take up arms to push back the Russian threat. We have seen distressing scenes of apartment blocks being bombed, the residents of Kiev hiding in the underground and others fleeing the country. It is the Jewish Ukrainian President Zelenskyy who has shown incredible leadership and bravery that has galvanised the nation not to surrender to Russian aggression.

Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine has totally changed the geo-political landscape of Europe and changed the post Second World War order and has resurrected the Cold War conventional military threat from Moscow. Putin has now threatened Sweden and Finland with military invasion and looking to intimidate the Baltic States, Poland. Hungry and Romanian. NATO is looking like a toothless tiger in the face of Russia military aggression.