We’ve all seen the awful scenes coming from the Ukraine these last few weeks. Putin’s war of aggression against a sovereign, independent country is sadly reminiscent of the scenes my Grandparents would have known during the Second World War, scenes we all hoped, perhaps believed, had been consigned to the history books in Europe. The free world has once again united, Russia stands isolated and alone on the international stage and I strongly believe that history will record Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine as one of the great geopolitical blunders on the 21st century. Both Leicestershire County Council and Charnwood Borough Council have been flying the Ukrainian flag in solidarity with the people of the Ukraine, and we stand ready to do everything we possibly can to welcome refugees escaping the conflict to our county.