The young Ukrainians waving the EU flag in the hope of a better future should serve as a reminder, amid the dark and dangerous days that have descended on their country, that a strong and free Europe speaking with one voice matters as much now as it ever did.

To my parents’ generation the EU symbolised a peace and prosperity that too often, too easily, we have taken for granted.

Indeed, our proud and confident country, with its tradition of looking out to the world, is now being run by a government arguing with itself about whether we should turn inwards and away from our own continent. It is more important than ever in these circumstances that political leaders set out their position towards the EU clearly before the next general election.