One thing I would add I am afraid is that a lot of Brits, I am not pointing the finger at any commentators here but based on my general experience, have a very poor grasp of the way borders have shifted in Europe. It isn't entirely surprising as Britain, to a large extent, is an island with very definite borders. Europe on the other hand has suffered wars/seen treaties which have resulted in the borders shifting THROUGHOUT history, right back to when nations as we knew them didn't exist and princes and tribal leaders invaded and swapped territories almost as a form of currency. It is impossible to define any people, particularly in Europe as Russian/Ukranian/Polish/German etc. based on where they live. For example my late mother-in-law was Polish, born and raised by a Polish family who were living in pre-war Poland. They were forcibly ejected from their homes by the Russian army, let's not forget Stalin was allied to Hitler at the start of the war as he wanted to take over Poland, and both my in-laws families were taken/marched to Siberia. The area my mother in laws family had been ejected from is now in Bielorus. My wife's grandfathers on both her mother and fathers sides were believed to have been assassinated under Stalins orders along with all other Polish officers. My Wife's father was born and raised by a Polish family living in an area of what was Poland but which is now in Ukraine. For our part, that is my wife and I, we live in a part of Poland which, before the war, was Germany. In fact we live in an old (1812) German farm house. But before it was Germany it was Poland before that, the land having been gifted as a dowry when a Polish princess was married off to a German prince some 700 years or so prior to it becoming Germany. Complicated or what, how far do we go back before we start saying what lump of land belongs to anyone based on historical reference, at which point do we draw the line! In fact Poland itself failed to exist as a country in its own right three times having been savaged by wars and treaties, three times in history resulting in the partition of the country. If anyone wants to learn more about European history I would suggest that Norman Davies is an author to look out for. He is an authority on the subject.
As an aside we know a very lovely Russian lady in the UK. She is finding life VERY difficult at the moment and experiencing a lot of negativity. That is sad. She has lived in England for decades, runs a small business and is married to a Brit but somehow some people around her are venting there displeasure with the situation on her. I find it astonishing that someone can be subject to such treatment solely as a result of the country which issued their birth certificate. She is an ordinary, well meaning soul who does not support the war, any war and yet is suffering. As for whether Brits choose to fight for Ukraine, they would presumably be doing so because of a deep rooted belief in democracy and people having a choice to an INDEPENDANT homeland. The Poles for instance have fought tooth and nail through history to gain their right to have a place to call their own. Democracy is very different from totalitarianism and not being able to get rid of your national leaders after a set term if you don't like what they are doing is not something I am sure many Brits would be particularly happy about. Want to criticise the government and risk a poisoned projectile in your leg delivered by a government sponsored assassin or find your Ryanair flight diverted to be arrested by a disgruntled president who doesn't like what you write about him!
Sorry, began to rant a bit. I want this all to be over as soon as. There is a definite feeling of anxiety in the air here too and like everybody we just want to get on with life.