Law, not impunity, should be the West’s rallying cry

At the G7 summit, democratic countries can broaden their coalition if they frame the invasion of Ukraine correctly.

The West has been united in humanitarian support for Ukrainian civilians, but it needs to answer the charge of double standards. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images

This week I saw first-hand the impact on civilians of the war in Ukraine. While travelling through the country I visited International Rescue Committee teams on the ground and heard the testimony of Ukrainians fleeing the fighting.

It would be comforting to think that the war in Ukraine has united the world in horror. Comforting, but wrong. So as the Western world mobilises to help Ukraine to defend itself and offers humanitarian support, it needs to work through the wider geopolitics.