Madness, madness, madness. The invasion of Ukraine could prove the end of Putin in the medium term, but the price paid today by Ukraine and its allies will be huge.

Why has Putin done this? Ukraine will be a drain on Russia for a generation and one sincerely hopes a more formidable longer-term enemy than many of its people suspect.

It is almost certainly about Putin’s legacy. Angry at the dismantling of the USSR and the West’s attitude to Russia generally (not always smartly handled), his well sign-posted objective is to rebuild Russia’s former empire and sphere of influence. He also seems in a hurry. His demeanour appears strange, he walks oddly and there have been persistent rumours of Parkinson’s disease. Perhaps his window of opportunity is a personal one not simply military.

And the West? Its frequent greed, lack of unity, lack of confidence, lack of purpose and understanding of the need to defend democratic principles both at home and abroad has contributed to Putin’s actions. Populism, with Trump only this week calling Putin’s aggression against Ukraine as ‘genius’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘very savvy’, has been a major contributor but so have other actions such as the courting of China for economic advantage and the acceptance of corrupt money washing through the West’s financial structures. Here in the UK, Chinese and Russian money coursing through the property market, tainting British politics in the process, has been a disgrace.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine should shake the West’s complacency and force a resetting of its purpose in pursuing and defending democracy. In this there are grounds for a sliver of optimism in these bleak times and the actions required are many, short and long term.

First, there should be total unity in the West’s opposition to Putin with overwhelming financial support and the provision of weapons to Ukraine, whatever the response from Russia, of course if it is not too late. Crushing economic sanctions too on a fragile Russian economy. No more independent diplomatic initiatives (Macron) or diplomacy at all. The latter has failed, and Western governments have promoted hope over experience in dealing with Putin for too long.

Second, it should be made clear that a single attack on a NATO member is war, whatever the consequences. We cannot let a corrupt iron curtain descend on Europe again.

Longer term, the implications for this invasion are wide-ranging. Europe must now pay up more fully for its own defence. This has been a source of legitimate concern and criticism from America. The EU also needs to unify around a more coherent and consistent collective defence and security policy, having mismanaged it to date. A single European armed force in coordination with NATO, no longer the concern of the UK, has to be under consideration even if today the EU’s disfunction makes it more of an aspiration. This in turn provides a route for the UK to forge a new relationship with the EU on defence and security grounds alone.

Time also for a new European energy policy. Reliance on Russian gas has surely been a huge and predictable strategic mistake. Merkel’s pointless decision to end Germany’s nuclear power capabilities will be seen to have been a disastrous legacy from her chancellorship.

Lastly, and crucially, the West should tackle its own compromising greed with immediate effect. No limit on economic sanctions whatever the price in the face of aggressors, however powerful. No dirty money in Western finance and politics. No compromise in trading democratic principles for ongoing trade with China for example and a total commitment to defending the independence of Taiwan. If there is an economic price to be paid by people in the West, so be it. It is the job of politicians to explain why and gain acceptance for any painful fallout.

It is a depressing day. Just as the threat of Covid finally starts to recede a new global disaster threatens to overwhelm us. But if the West cleans up its act in defending democratic principles through concrete and constructive actions, Putin’s aggression may provide a route for the West to recover its purpose. And not a moment too soon.