https://www.ukip.org/ukraine-the-wages-of-vanity

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The West has sought to expand its trade and defence empire, again with no regard for the consequences, and no regard for the security concerns of a major power. At every turn the West has sought to alienate Russia, carelessly provoking it, while stringing Ukraine along with promises we never intended to fulfil.

This has been building for years, and we should have known NATO expansion was a serious provocation. Had an independent Ireland attempted to join the Soviet Union, British tanks would be driving down O'Connell Street by lunchtime.

To then say that Putin must be stopped, you are in fact demanding World War Three out of a fear that something worse may come if we don't. There's a word for that. Stupidity. There is no situation worse than a third world war.. A war where even if we win, we still lose.

The question for the West, therefore, was one of how we de-escalate and reset relations with Russia. There was a window for that, in which we could have backed down from NATO expansion, and cultivated armed neutrality within Ukraine. Instead, the EU has dangled Ukrainian EU membership, and the option of NATO is still on the table. We've flooded the country with weapons, thereby escalating the tension.

The consequence of that is that Ukraine has been able to hold its own against the ground offensive for now, but having faced a series of propaganda defeats, Putin has instead launched an all out bombardment, putting Ukrainian cities under siege. Putin has decided that if Russia is to have a direct border with NATO on its western flank, then Ukraine will be on the Russian side of it. In all probability, Ukraine will be either split down the middle or destroyed completely.

If there was a way to dial it back, we have missed the opportunity. I don't think Putin has a way out any more. This is now ego-driven and he will see it to the bitter end. Meanwhile the West seems to have convinced itself that Ukraine is winning. Nobody can deny they have fought bravely, but it's a forlorn hope. The west has ramped up the sanctions, which have only galvanised Putin's resolve, and the harder we push, the more savage his campaign against Ukraine will be.

More intelligent foreign policy could have saved Ukraine but in all probability it's too late now. Our vanity and arrogance have sealed Ukraine's fate – and more people will die because of it. Millions will be displaced from their homes, and the whole of Europe now faces a decade of deep recession – not least because of our bone headed energy policies. You'll forgive me then, if I'm not so keen to wave the NATO flag.

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I share the same despair. If NATO and the west continue to put pressure on Putin the more he will resist. When he feels he has nothing to lose he will take all of us out with him.

NATO have been tasked with bringing Russia to its knees, even if that means destroying ourselves in the process.

The only way to resolve this is to give Putin a way out, pull the attack dogs of NATO back.

But it doesn't seem we will. We would rather see the world destroyed than do that.