Ladies and gentlemen.

In these days of turmoil, we find ourselves mired in what is fashionably dubbed 'Ukraine fatigue,' a malaise entirely of our own making! We, the grand architects in the West, have led our public to believe that war is a trifling matter, much like a stroll in the park.

How woefully misinformed we were! Now, we stand bewildered, having underestimated Russia's will to guard its borders in response to Ukraine and NATO's provocative decision to station NATO weapons along Ukraine's border with Russia.

This provocation has neither aided Ukraine nor broken Russia, but rather triggered this endless war, leading to a spike in the cost of living across the UK and the entire EU.

We have, with a rather humorous naiveté, believed that simply pouring money into Ukraine would tip the scales.

But alas, much of this wealth does not thunder on the battlefield but rather trickles down the dark alleys and into the murky waters of the food chain that gives and receives this so-called 'aid' money.

It seems we have forgotten the old adage: 'Money cannot buy victory.' We triumphed over evil in World War II because of the spirit of the great British people, fighting for what is right, not for what is profitable for the war industry.

It is time for a moment of sober reflection, a moment to ponder whether our strategy is a masterstroke or mere folly.

We must ask ourselves: Is it wise to continue fueling a war with funds that often fail to reach their intended mark?.

Would it not be prudent to rethink our approach, to craft a strategy that genuinely benefits Ukraine?.

Have the lessons of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan eluded our grasp so completely that we are fated to tread again the path of funding a boundless conflict, a path that history has shown leads not to triumph, but to an inescapable quagmire?

This is not a call to abandon support but rather to negotiate with a sense of realism and respect for interests on both sides.

We've negligently discarded the Minsk Agreement, yet it remains a beacon of our once-preferred path of dialogue over discord.
Yet, it remains a testament to a time when we sought dialogue over discord.

We must not, and indeed cannot, expect Mr. Putin to agree to a deal presented with all the subtlety of an elephant attempting a ballet. Such an approach is as ill-advised as it is impractical.

A solution that disregards Russia's interests is as likely to succeed as a snowball's chance in hell.

Let us, therefore, not be blinded by our own propaganda, nor led astray by the siren call of endless financial aid that seems to vanish into thin air. Instead, let's start prioritizing the more judicious use of our taxpayers' money to benefit the interests of the British people. It's time we focus on uplifting our cherished NHS and education system, and on alleviating the soaring cost of living, for a much-needed change.

My words stem not from any affection for Mr. Putin or a preference for Russia over Ukraine. Rather, they are born of a deep concern for the impact of this ceaseless and futile financing of the Ukrainian conflict on the welfare of the British people, and from a genuine desire to prioritize the interests of the Ukrainian populace over those profiteering handsomely from this protracted war.

It is high time we approach this conflict with the wisdom of a strategist, not the folly of a gambler.

Let us remember that history is not made by those who tirelessly throw money at a problem, but by those who, in the face of adversity, seek solutions with wisdom, courage, and a keen eye on the realities of the world.

Our course must not be one of surrender, but rather a bold reevaluation, a reinvention born of unflinching courage and an unwavering commitment to face reality, not as we wish it to be, but as it truly is.

Thank you.