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Situation in Russia

26 June 2023

Lead MP

James Cleverly

Debate Type

Ministerial Statement

Tags

UkraineDefence
Other Contributors: 29

At a Glance

James Cleverly raised concerns about situation in russia in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Government Statement

UkraineDefence
Government Statement
With permission, Mr Speaker, I will update the House on the situation in Russia. The long-running feud between Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russian armed forces reached a peak over the weekend when Prigozhin's Wagner Group refused to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defence by 1 July as ordered. On Friday, Prigozhin denounced the war effort for Ukraine as unjustified and unprovoked, accusing Putin’s military leadership of bringing 'evil' on the country. He declared a march on Moscow before calling off his operation and being pardoned by Putin. The Government monitors developments carefully and has been in touch with allies. Despite internal Russian unrest, the invasion of Ukraine continues; however, these events show that Russia's leadership cannot justify this war even to each other. The UK will support Ukraine’s self-defence and recovery.

Shadow Comment

David Lammy
Shadow Comment
Thanking the Foreign Secretary for briefings on Privy Council terms, the Opposition is reassured by Government's unity in support of Ukraine against Putin’s invasion. David Lammy asks whether Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary spoke to Ukrainian counterparts today or over the weekend to reiterate UK’s long-term support. The shadow highlights that Prigozhin’s rebellion exposed Putin’s false war narrative and raised questions about Wagner Group’s future, including potential new threats to Ukraine from Belarus if it disintegrates. He commends the Foreign Secretary for hosting the Ukraine recovery conference and asks when Russia's state assets will be seized as per our Opposition day debate tomorrow.
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