Has Ukraine the right to attack Moscow in retaliation?

The drone attack on a target in Moscow on 30 May 2023 “appeared to demonstrate” Ukraine’s growing capabilities to strike deep beyond enemy lines in Russia.

President Putin has accused Ukraine of “terrorist activity for provoking a tit for tat measure,” said: The Guardian. Although Moscow did not say how it would respond? The drone strike came as Russia launched another wave of aerial attack on Kyiv, the 4th in recent days. It killed at least one person, hospitalised others forcing the evacuation of a Kyiv high rise building. According to Kyiv, 11 ballistic and cruise missiles at 11.30 a.m. Kyiv time 30th May, rained down and all of them were shot down.

                                                          

UK Foreign Secretary’s James Cleverly commented while visiting his counterpart in Tallinn, Estonia before the NATO meeting in Oslo, Norway stated; Ukraine has the legitimate right to defend itself. It has the right to project force beyond its borders for self-defence”. He went on to say: “I don’t have details and I am going to speculate about the nature of the drone attack in Moscow. So what I am about to say are more general points, rather than on the specific incident. Ukraine does have the legitimate right to do so within its own borders, of course. But it does also have the right “to project force” beyond. So legitimate military targets beyond its own borders are part of Ukraine’s defence. And we should recognise that. That is not to say that I have any particular assessment on the attack in Moscow”.

This is what I call British diplomatic jargon. Whilst this was mouthed, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky stated: “Ukraine was pleased to watch Moscow drone attacks, but deny they were from Ukraine.” The war of words is juxtaposed with heavy fighting inside parts of Ukraine bordering Russia. Now that spring has sprung and the thick ice in rivers have melted, it is “war without end.” When will it end is the big question on the minds of many around the world. Some African nations including South Africa, are proposing to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, so does the EU nation, Belgium. We will have to wait and see if sanity prevails?

 Victor Cherubim

King Charles III Coronation

Why is King Charles III so loved by the Brits? 

 On 6 May 2023, we celebrated the coronation of King Charles III.

Everything has changed, yet nothing of the ceremonial has changed inside or outside, Westminster Abbey. 

The Golden Coronation Carriage on the return after the Coronation to Buckingham Palace or the six Windsor grey horses or the Household Cavalry providing the Sovereign’s Escort, or the marching bands from UK and the Commonwealth.

Though the Accession took place on 8 September 2022, King Charles III will be crowned King of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Head of State of 14 other countries. Head of the Commonwealth of 52 nation states. 

As King of our times, His Majesty is loved by the people of Britain and the Commonwealth as the contents of his thoughts resonate with the world of today. His Majesty is able to translate the burning issues of the day, climate, diversity, natural habitat, organic farming, and herbal treatments, unknown before to monarchs of the past. His Majesty also has his own ideas of monarchy, much of it has remained but also has changed with his Accession.

Though the Accession took place on 8 September 2022, King Charles III will be crowned King of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Head of State of 14 other countries. Head of the Commonwealth of 52 nation states.

As King of our times, His Majesty is loved by the people of Britain and the Commonwealth as the contents of his thoughts resonate with the world of today. His Majesty is able to translate the burning issues of the day, climate, diversity, natural habitat, organic farming, and herbal treatments, unknown before to monarchs of the past.

His Majesty also has his own ideas of monarchy, much of it has remained but also has changed with his Accession. Tradition has given way to a slim down monarchy, with the lesser royals now being a part of the inner royal family. This is also seen in the non-invitation to the Coronation ceremony of a number of the aristocratic old guard and in particular half of the 24 Dukes of the Realm, who were part of Queen Elizabeth II coronation in 1953. The decision also involves Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother. However, the Queen Camilla’s ex-husband, Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, is among the many guests attending.

It seems diplomacy has replaced tradition in a sense, in that top Chinese Diplomat Han Zheng, who has been linked to the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, as well as Head of Sinn Fein, Michelle O’Neill, are included in the invitations, 

Not to cause concern to the colonial past history is also evident. The Queen Mary Crown of 1911, which had embedded the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond, taken from Colonial India and the Cullinan III and IV, also known as the Lesser Stars of Colonial Africa, are no longer featured. These Diamonds have been reconfigured and/or replaced. The Brits have a way of looking at their history as well as knowing what they have done in the past. It is also about not leaving the past custom and tradition, Unlike the Americans who many think, are out to show their patriotism by flag waving, the Brits are more concerned about being proud of where they are today? In my opinion the most important trait is that they continue to maintain are “a stiff upper lip”, never to say out loud what they as a people should not say about other culture. Of course, Coronation parties will stir the dominant pride of the British people at large? 

What is interesting about King Charles III? Born at 9.14 p.m. on 14 November 1948, King Charles is the oldest monarch ever crowned in British history. • He was the longest-serving heir apparent. ... • He became the first heir apparent to speak Welsh fluently as well as French ... • He is the first heir to earn a university degree. ... • He can play three musical instruments, including the cello ... • He is the first member of the Royal Family to earn RAF wings, a qualified jet and helicopter pilot…. • He is a Diver who explored the shipwrecks including the Mary Rose, King Henry VIII flagship… •

Throughout his 70 year wait as heir apparent he has spoken out on subjects that he felt were important to the British public. 

PEOPLE’S HOMAGE TO KING CHARLES III

At the Coronation, the Archbishop of Canterbury  called upon “all persons of goodwill in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and all the Other Realms and Territories to make the homage to King Charles III, in heart and voice”. 

 “All who so desire in the Abbey and elsewhere say together:” Then all who wish to join will say: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty and to all your Heirs and Successors according to law, so help me God”. It will be followed by the playing of a fanfare. “The Homage of the People” is particularly exciting, because it is a brand new part of the Coronation ceremony. King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s Coronation will be with the solid gold 17th Century St Edward’s Crown, which has been resized to fit the King and Queen Mary’s Crown to fit Queen Camilla. The ceremony will be performed inside Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Justin Welby. More than 30 screens will be erected in cities and towns across the United Kingdom, including Cardiff Castle, Belfast City, Piece Hall in Halifax, Jubilee Square in Brighton and Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester.

Celebrations are planned for the entire weekend with global music icons and contemporary stars due to perform at Windsor Castle on Sunday May 7, 2023 for a Concert televised by the BBC. Ceremonies and street parties don’t end as Monday 8 May has been declared a Bank Holiday to mark the occasion.

 Victor Cherubim