I was appalled when Putin invaded Ukraine and endlessly frustrated by the West's weak response to his murderous actions.
Instead of standing up to this evil bully, all they did was give Ukraine just enough support to make sure they didn't lose the war without ever giving them enough to win it.
And now, three whole years later, we have to put up with the dangerous garbage spouted by President Trump, who has single-handedly managed to make Putin great again.
What a farce and what an insult to the brave men and women of Ukraine who are fighting for their freedom and, indirectly, for ours.
These thoughts were milling around my head as I admired this extraordinary artwork by Polina, a Year 11 student at Trinity School in Leamington, whose family found refuge in the UK after Putin's invasion. The painting was displayed in East Lodge in a celebration of students' artwork organised by the Leamington Studio Artists. (If you haven't seen the exhibition featuring many talented young artists from Aylesford and Trinity Schools then I do urge you to go. It finishes on the 9th March.)
Polina's painting entitled "To Not Cry" features the famous Ukrainian writer, poet and playwright Lesya Ukrainka. The title comes from one of her poems, "I laughed to not cry," - a sentiment that epitomises the Ukrainian spirit.
She was born Larysa Petrivna Kosach in 1871. The family spoke Ukrainian at home and she was home tutored to avoid going to school where the Russian occupiers insisted on lessons being taught in the Russian language. Her first poem was published at the age of 13 and, at her mother's suggestion, she started using the pseudonym Lesya Ukrainka. Her first collection of poems had to be published in secret in Western Ukraine and smuggled into Kyiv because publications in Ukrainian were forbidden.
Her poems and plays emphasise her belief in the dignity of the individual and her country's right to freedom and independence.