Nigel Jones

Justin Welby is wrong: Russia should be punished for its war in Ukraine

Justin Welby in Ukraine (Credit: Getty images)

As the world marks the grim first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin should give thanks that there appears to be at least one of what Lenin called ‘useful idiots’ left in the West. Step forward – after removing your foot from its usual place in your mouth – the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most Reverend Justin Welby.

Fresh from presiding over a schism in the worldwide Anglican Communion over gay marriage, the Archbishop is now favouring us with his deeply misguided views on Putin’s aggression and its possible consequences.

It may not sit well with Welby’s milk and water theology

Welby has said that ‘when the time comes’ and ‘provided a just peace between Russia and Ukraine can be achieved’, Russia must be allowed to ‘recover’. In an article for the Daily Telegraph, Welby says this is vital to ensure that ‘Russia cannot end up like Germany after 1919’.

Welby is, of course, referring to the Versailles Treaty after the First World War.

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