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Question
The shadow Foreign Secretary expressed condolences for those killed and praised Poland’s cautious response. He questioned the Government on their strategy to strengthen global opposition against Russia, especially among nations in the Global South.
Minister reply
The minister agreed that strategic endurance is crucial in defending international laws and territorial integrity. He mentioned ongoing efforts with Turkey to support the Black Sea grain initiative, aiming to mitigate Vladimir Putin’s use of hunger as leverage.
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Question
Welcomes the Foreign Secretary’s remarks about strategic endurance and asks for assurance that appropriate representations have been made to the Chancellor and Prime Minister regarding defence investment.
Minister reply
Affirms the need for long-term support, mentions high-level representation at the Ramstein donor conference to ensure coordinated support for Ukraine.
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Question
Commends the Foreign Secretary's statement and expresses solidarity with Poland. Questions whether further air support is needed and if a no-fly zone should be considered.
Minister reply
Acknowledges evolving threats, mentions providing surface-to-air defence missile systems, and states that they will look at further air defence donations from the international community.
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Question
Asks if the Foreign Secretary agrees with him that Article 5 of the NATO treaty is still relevant.
Minister reply
Agrees that collective defence is a cornerstone of safety but mentions that NATO’s response will be calibrated to the facts on the ground.
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Question
Questions about the role of international bodies in trying to bring about an end to the conflict.
Minister reply
Responds that calls for halting the war should not be neutral acts; emphasises support for Ukraine and condemns Putin's aggression.
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Question
Offers condolences to Poland, questions about continued support for Ukraine’s infrastructure defence.
Minister reply
Confirms that they will continue to supply Ukraine with the necessary air defence and energy generation equipment until it prevails in the conflict.
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Question
Discusses measures for punishing Putin and his cronies, mentions the Home Office's report on the visa scheme.
Minister reply
Reminds that the golden visa scheme is closed, mentions sanctions targeting money people around Putin to choke off supply of funds.
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Question
In the context of a missile incident in Poland, can the Foreign Secretary use this opportunity to reinforce to allies that Russia is not only at war with Ukraine but also at war with them?
Minister reply
The UK is defending multiple things including lives lost and human rights abuses. It is defending the UN charter and international law, and addressing cyber-attacks and threats from Vladimir Putin.
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Question
Does Russia's use of energy as a weapon mean we must avoid being reliant on fossil-fuel autocrats and instead focus on clean, secure homegrown energy?
Minister reply
The UK agrees that it needs to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons from autocratic states like Russia. The government is committed to renewable energy generation and storage.
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Question
Despite the UK's efforts in providing military aid, do the Ukrainians have enough air defence equipment to protect themselves?
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges that Ukraine needs more air defence systems. The issue will be discussed at Ramstein and remains a priority.
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Question
What steps have the Government taken to establish contact with Russian counterparts after learning of the incident in Poland?
Minister reply
The UK maintains lines of communication where possible and practical, but details are not disclosed due to security concerns.
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Question
Will the country continue to provide Ukrainians with air defence systems like Thales' lightweight multi-role missile?
Minister reply
The UK is looking at using domestic systems and procuring them from international partners for Ukrainian use.
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Question
How is the Foreign Secretary working with allies to prevent Russia's attempts to rebuild its espionage network?
Minister reply
While not able to discuss specific intelligence matters, the UK and its allies continue to work closely on security issues.
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Question
Can the Foreign Secretary update the House on conversations at the G20 regarding Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine?
Minister reply
The implications for global energy and food supplies are being discussed, but full details cannot be provided as meetings are ongoing.
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Question
Does the Foreign Secretary agree that Russia is entirely responsible for any deaths resulting from the incident in Poland?
Minister reply
The minister confirms that Russia is at fault, and Putin bears responsibility for the illegal invasion of Ukraine.
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Question
Will efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to Ukraine be redoubled? Will energy equipment and infrastructure repair support also continue?
Minister reply
The UK will continue providing military, economic, and humanitarian support. Yesterday, a £10 million memorandum was signed for rebuilding Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
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Question
The Foreign Secretary is absolutely right to be led by the facts, and hopefully those facts will become clearer, given reports that a NATO E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system was on station at the time. One thing is clear now: that Putin’s evil regime is targeting the civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. My right hon. Friend has just described the support we are giving to maintain lighting and heating systems. Will he emphasise once again that we are giving that aid so that the brave Ukrainian people have the lighting, the heating and the food they need, especially as winter approaches?
Minister reply
My hon. and gallant Friend makes the incredibly important point that the Ukrainians are the ones who are defending themselves. It is the Ukrainian people who are putting their lives at risk on the frontline in the conflict against the Russian invasion, and it is the Ukrainian people, right across Ukraine and, indeed, beyond its borders, whose strength, perseverance and incredible bravery is enabling the pushing back of the Russian military out of eastern and southern Ukraine. We must ensure that we help the Ukrainian people to maintain the morale they need to persevere in the defence of their homeland.
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Question
On Friday night, I and a small group of my friends made the 2,000-mile trip to Ukraine. We crossed the Polish border and the Ukrainian border, then entered Lviv to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to suffering families. That was not the only precious cargo on board, because we took with us, after 222 days of their living with my family, the mother and little boy who have been living at home with me in North Norfolk, and reunited them, together, in what were the most remarkable, humbling and emotional scenes I will probably ever see. Of the aid delivered, the generators that the people of North Norfolk were able to get on to the van were incredibly well received. Those generators are not available in Poland any more, so may we have some sort of national push to try to get generators to the people of Ukraine? To bring it home, Secretary of State, last night the father of the little boy whom my wife and family are looking after spent the night in Lviv after missile strikes with no energy, no water and no heating. This is affecting civilians and people I can now proudly say are part of my family.
Minister reply
First, I commend my hon. Friend for the generosity he has displayed in hosting a Ukrainian family in wonderful North Norfolk, which is a part of the country I know well. It is a privilege to serve alongside him on these green Benches. I know that a number of Members from all parties have done likewise, and that is to their credit. My hon. Friend’s story is incredibly moving and he is absolutely right that behind the statistics, facts and numbers are people. We have to ensure that, on their behalf, we stick with it and maintain our willingness to do what is right. Even though we in the UK will go through difficult times this winter domestically, our difficulties pale into insignificance compared with the difficulties faced by people right across Ukraine, not just in the east and south where the land conflict is ongoing. We of course have a duty to help and support people who are here in the UK, but while doing so we also have a duty to help and support the brave people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against the brutal, illegal and unjustified invasion of their homeland by Russia.