Mark Dolan: Ukraine's colossal dignity shines through the horror and carnage

What's the difference between a between a great country and a poor one? Its people.

The themes of this this war, just two weeks old, have been horror and carnage, but humanity and hope too, reflected in the colossal dignity of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking today in the House of Commons by video link.

I’ve been humbled in the last fortnight, to sit in this chair and speak to people in Ukraine dodging shells and bullets.

The MP speaking to me from a cupboard in her bedroom, with a government-issued rifle at her side.

A star tennis player who put down his racket and left his wife and children in another country, to go back to his homeland and fight.

I asked him what he would be willing to do if things got bad. He had one answer for me. Anything. In its clear the people of Ukraine will do anything.

And everything. To protect their country.

They will die for it. This tennis players family live with a reality now, hour by hour that he could get caught in the conflict and not return.

I was humbled to speak to a Ukrainian popstar in a rather fetching pink hat, because, showbiz, telling me much the same.

He’s this year’s Eurovision entry with a cracking song about his mum called Stefania, which has become an anthem.

Let’s all listen to it and get it to number 1.

This guy has put his music on hold and is helping in the relief effort and holding the line for his country.

I was humbled by the YouTube star with much the same story of courage and forbearance.

The history of these two countries is complex and hate him as we do, it’s important we understand the background to what Putin is doing, so we can ultimately resolve it, and prevent it happening again.

But what is demonstrably clear, is that this is an illegal invasion.

War crimes are being committed as we speak. Men, women and children are being murdered and this is playing out, as a battle of good versus evil.

Everyone I've spoken to in Ukraine wants a no-fly zone, which would see NATO and the West keep the skies over Ukraine clear, stopping any Russian planes dropping bombs, missiles and opening fire from above.

At first glance, it makes sense. With the skies of Ukraine clear, the brave and sophisticated Ukrainian army, would have a fair fight with the Russians, many of whose troops already seem semi-detatched, from what they consider Putin’s war.

With a no-fly zone, the spirited Ukranian army, which has been woefully underestimated by the Kremlin, can defeat Russia, which would ultimately see the back of Vladimir Putin altogether.

It's unlikely he would re-emerge from his Siberian bunker, where he is reportedly hanging out. Probably sat at a massive desk.

Did you know IKEA have sold out of those huge tables? Imagine self-assembling one of those. It would take all day. I’d leave it to Mrs Dolan, she’s good with her hands.

But a no-fly zone is a big ask.

If a NATO plane shoots a Russian jet out of the sky, Putin will consider this a provocation by the West and it’s world war three.

With implications not for thousands, which is already a nightmare, but millions, around the world.

Never say never of course, but for now we must crank up the sanctions and supply Ukrainians, with as much intelligence and military hardware as we can get our hands on.

We are in a very dark place, and I fear things will get worse, before they get better.

But history shows, good always prevails over evil, truth prevails over lies and right prevails over wrong. But not without a fight. And Ukraine's fight, is ours too.