Russia’s appalling assault on Ukraine is an unprovoked, premeditated attack against a sovereign, democratic state and we are relentlessly committed to supporting Ukraine through this dark hour.
President Putin, enabled by Belarus, has unleashed a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by land, sea, and air. This is a premeditated and unprovoked attack, barbaric in execution, on a sovereign democratic state. My thoughts are with the Ukrainian people and their President, whose defiance, courage, and patriotism in the face of foreign aggression is inspiring.
I commend the world leadership shown by the Prime Minister in support of Ukraine and the leading role he has played in encouraging the world to isolate Russia for its illegal invasion, including through the imposition of the most severe and coordinated package of sanctions Russia has ever faced.
In lockstep with allies around the world, the UK is:
- Sanctioning Russia's Central Bank, banning the Russian State and all Russian companies from raising funds in the UK, and freezing the assets of all Russian banks.
- Shutting off Russian banks' access to the global financial system by blocking access to SWIFT.
- Sanctioning President Putin, his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, leading oligarchs (such as Roman Abramovich) and hundreds of other individuals, entities, and their subsidiaries at the heart of his wicked regime.
- Strengthening export controls against Russia by banning the export of high-end and critical technical equipment and components in sectors including electronics, telecommunications, and aerospace, thereby degrading Russia's military and economic development.
- Sanctioning members of the Russian Duma and National Security Council for their support for the invasion.
- Banning Aeroflot, Russia's national airline, and all other Russian commercial and private jets from UK airspace. New legislation makes it a criminal offence for any Russian aircraft to fly or land in the UK and gives the Government the ability to detain any aircraft owned by persons connected with Russia, and to remove them from the UK aircraft register.
- Denying access to UK ports to ships owned, controlled, charter of operated by anyone connected to Russia as well as any vessel registered in Russia or flying the Russian flag.
- Imposing new restrictions to cut off wealthy Russians’ access to UK banks.
- Imposing sanctions on Belarus for its complicity in Putin's invasion.
- Extending a Crimea-type embargo to occupied territory in the breakaway Ukrainian republics.
- Intensifying sanctions enforcement, with new powers for law enforcement and a specialised Kleptocracy unit to crack down on companies that breach sanctions.
- Bringing forward measures from the Economic Crime Bill early which strengthen Unexplained Wealth Orders and broaden their scope, cracking down on corrupt elites in the UK.
To be clear, these internationally coordinated measures collectively amount to the biggest, most devastating package of sanctions imposed against a single country in history.
The UK and allies clearly warned Putin that there would be a severe cost for his country were there to be any further Russian military incursion into Ukraine. Thus Putin alone is response for the impact of sanctions on the lives of the Russian people.
Military Support
I welcome that the UK has, for a number of years now, worked to support Ukraine's security and defence. The UK has, for instance, trained over 22,000 members of the Ukrainian army through Operation ORBITAL since 2015.
In recent months the UK has provided Ukraine with over 3,615 new light anti-tank weapons (NLAWs) along with a range of other defensive weapons and non-lethal aid such as body armour. The Defence Secretary recently informed the House that the UK will shortly start delivering anti-tank Javelin missiles, and that the Government is also exploring the possibility of donating Star streak high-velocity, man-portable anti-air missiles, which would allow Ukraine to better defend its skies. The decision to supply defensive systems has my full support.
The Defence Secretary recently hosted 25 countries as part of an international conference of donors for lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine, coordinating donations and organising aircraft and support for donations to be delivered.
Humanitarian Support
Total UK aid to Ukraine and the region for the current crisis comes to £395 million, making us the largest humanitarian donor. This includes £220m of humanitarian assistance; £100m to bolster the Ukrainian economy and reduce Ukraine’s reliance on Russian gas imports; and £75m for the Ukrainian government budget to mitigate financial pressures created by the invasion. The UK is also guaranteeing up to $500m of loans to Ukraine through Multilateral Development Banks. The Government is also matching the first £25 million donated by the British public to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, see: https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
A Humanitarian Assistance Task Force of 1,000 soldiers is at readiness in the UK to support a humanitarian response in the region should it be needed. Humanitarian Teams from the FCDO are also on the ground in neighbouring countries.
Discrimination on Polish Border
I too am concerned by credible reports of discrimination against people of African, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds amongst those seeking to leave Ukraine. The UK is committed to the principle of non-discrimination on any grounds, including on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or race. The Foreign Secretary pledged to raise this issue with her Polish counterpart when questioned about it in the House.
Consular Support
The British Embassy in Kyiv has temporarily relocated. Embassy staff are operating from the British Embassy office in L’viv. British nationals in Ukraine should heed the FCDO's travel advice for Ukraine. FCDO rapid deployment teams have been deployed to countries neighbouring Ukraine to assist UK embassies in supporting British nationals who have crossed Ukraine's borders, including Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova.
NATO
The UK spends more in cash terms than any NATO member, other than the US, on defence. The UK is Europe’s largest contributor to NATO. We have deployed more troops to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence than any other Ally.
The British Army leads the NATO Battlegroup in Estonia and, because of this ongoing crisis, is doubling the number of UK personnel based there and sending additional equipment, including tanks and armoured fighting vehicles.
The UK also has troops stationed in Poland as part of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence there. Royal Marines from 45 Commando have also deployed to Poland to support the Polish Armed Forces with joint exercises, contingency planning, and capacity building in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This support is being offered on a bilateral basis and is not part of the UK’s offer to NATO.
Additional aircraft have also been posted to our base in Cyprus to patrol the skies with NATO Allies in Eastern Europe, and UK warships are conducting patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea alongside NATO Allies from Canada, Italy, Spain, and Turkey. The UK has long called on others to increase their contributions to the Alliance, and it is very welcome that, for instance, Germany recently announced that it will henceforth spend 2 per cent of its GDP on defence.
‘NATO is threatening Russia’
NATO is and has always been a defensive Alliance, which does not threaten Russia or any other country. NATO remains committed to the dual-track approach of strong defence and meaningful dialogue. In the NATO-Russia Council earlier this year, Allies made clear to Russia that any further aggression that threatens Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity would carry a significant cost.
Ukraine & NATO
Each and every nation has a sovereign right to choose its own security arrangements. Countries choose NATO; NATO does not choose them. If Russia has concerns about enlargement, then perhaps it should ask itself why, when people were free to choose, they chose NATO – a purely defensive alliance. The UK stands up for the right of all countries, including Ukraine, to choose their own destiny; and is clear that the Kremlin has no right to dictate what other sovereign states can or cannot choose.
No-fly zone:
I understand, of course, people’s desire to see a no-fly zone instituted above Ukraine. However, I would highlight the words of the Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, in the House of Commons that such a policy would present too high a risk of miscalculation and escalation that could ultimately lead to the inadvertent triggering of NATO’s Article 5.
Brits joining the Ukrainians
The FCDO advise against all travel to Ukraine and is recommending that British nationals still in Ukraine should leave immediately if it is safe to do so. I understand people’s desire to help in this terrible situation and I would highlight that the Ukrainian Embassy to the UK has set up a special fund to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine’s civilian population and to purchase medical and military supplies for Ukraine’s army. It is possible to donate at withukraine.org. As such, I would dissuade any Brit from travelling to Ukraine, whatever the reason.
Food Security
As you note, Ukraine is a major producer of grain. Russia's invasion of the country is bound to severely impede these exports, the effect of which will be felt around the world. The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, built on strong domestic production and diverse sources of foreign supply. The Prime Minister outlined just some of the measures the Government is taking to further buttress UK food security, including to support domestic producers, in the House on 2 March when questioned on this matter.
Potential Russian War Crimes
The images emerging from Ukraine, including of mass civilian casualties (including children) resulting from the indiscriminate bombing of cities by the Russian military, are immensely harrowing. The UK is crystal clear that Putin cannot commit these horrific acts with impunity and, on 2 March, along with 37 of our allies, referred his regime's atrocities in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court at The Hague. This referral means the ICC Prosecutor can now proceed straight to an investigation.
Nuclear Power Plant Attack
Attacks against civilian nuclear sites are prohibited under the Geneva Conventions. An International Atomic Energy Agency resolution condemning Russia's assaults on nuclear facilities in Ukraine was passed on 3 March. The UK is using all legal and political means at its disposal to further address these acts, including via the UN Security Council.
British support for Ukrainian nationals
I know that this is an issue about which my constituents care deeply, with some even generously offering to open their home to those who have fled the country.
Ministers have assured me that they continue to keep the Government’s handling of the situation under review as it develops. I welcome the expansive Ukrainian Family Scheme which allows family members of British nationals, UK settled persons and certain others to come or stay in the UK.
Those joining the Scheme will be granted leave for three years and will be able to work and access public funds. The Scheme is also free and does not include any salary or language requirements. Ukrainians already in the UK can either extend their visa or switch to another immigration route, where eligible, even if their visa does not normally allow them to do so. Guidance on the support available to Ukrainian nationals and their family members can be found here:
Furthermore, the Government is establishing a humanitarian sponsorship pathway (the Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine), which will open up a route to the UK for Ukrainians who may not have family ties with the UK but who are able to match with individuals, charities, businesses, and community groups.
There will be no limit on this scheme; individuals will be granted leave for an initial period of 12 months and will be able to work and access public services. Further details on the scheme will be published soon, including information on how people and organisations in the UK can apply to be sponsors.
It is encouraging that the Minister for Safe and Legal Migration has updated Parliament on the measures the Government is taking to expedite applications. I am pleased to confirm that staff have been surged to key visa application centres across Europe, particularly Poland, and more biometric kit has been moved to support them. Supporting this work from the UK, the Home Office has put casework teams on standby to process applications to prevent delays.
Calais
It is essential that a choke point is not created at places such as Calais. People smugglers are already present in the region, and it is crucial that people do not attempt to make dangerous Channel crossings to enter the UK. I am encouraged that the Government is looking to establish a presence in Lille, alongside providing transport options, to help Ukrainians in the region.
The Prime Minister has said that nothing is off the table when it comes to the UK's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and indeed the desire of its people to live in peace, democracy and free from foreign bullying.
Putin must fail. I am assured that the UK Government, standing alongside our friends in Ukraine and allies around the world, using all possible means at its disposal, is urgently engaged in ensuring he does. I am following these efforts closely.