Ukraine Territorial Integrity 2022-01-10

2022-01-10

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Jerome Mayhew Con
Broadland and Fakenham
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What steps his Department is taking to help protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence has a long-standing relationship with our Ukrainian counterparts, and we continue to provide support in many areas including security assistance and defence reform. Since 2015, the UK has helped to build the resilience and capacity of the Ukrainian armed forces through Operation Orbital, which has trained over 22,000 Ukrainian troops.
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Q2 Direct Answer
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Can my right hon. Friend update the House on the memorandum of implementation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom to build up naval capacity and naval bases?
It became very clear after 2014 that Ukraine had lost large parts of its navy to Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea, and it is important to help Ukraine build up and sustain a naval capability. We have continued to invest in that, and last year we signed not only an MOI but an agreement to sell naval patrol boats with weapons systems to the Ukrainian Government.
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Q3 Direct Answer
Gagan Mohindra Con
South West Hertfordshire
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I associate myself with the comments about Jack Dromey. Does my right hon. Friend share my gratitude to the excellent staff at Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood in my constituency for their superb leadership and focus on our overseas operations?
My hon. Friend is right to pay tribute to staff at PJHQ. Both civilian and military staff constantly work around the clock to deliver a whole range of international operations and, in terms of the frontline, are always ready and prepared to deploy to wherever we need in the world, including in Ukraine.
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Q4 Direct Answer
Jerome Mayhew Con
Broadland and Fakenham
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It has been suggested that our support for Ukraine might include the provision of weapons systems. Is that true?
As I have said, in June last year, we entered into an agreement with Ukraine to supply eight fast ships equipped with modern weapons systems. That was a significant agreement as it affirmed the UK's openness to supply Ukraine with defensive weapons systems as well as training, and that principle remains.
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Q5 Partial Answer
Andrew Gwynne Ind
Gorton and Denton
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May I thank the House for the kind words about our friend, Jack Dromey? The threats made to Ukraine are part of a wider pattern of behaviour by Russia, ranging from Belarus to the Balkans, to test NATO and the west. We also have to tackle Russian misinformation, as it is a huge tool in President Putin's arsenal and has been used to devastating effect against our allies. What steps are the Government considering taking to counter that huge problem, along with other grey zone attacks?
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. The false narrative is that, somehow, NATO is surrounding Ukraine, when only one 16th of Russia's border is shared with a NATO member. It is also a false narrative to say that NATO, as some sort of single entity, looks to expansion. People seek to join NATO often as a result of other issues. The question for the Kremlin is why so many countries have sought that membership. On what I am doing to counter that information, I think we all have a role to play. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has engaged the media, and I will continue to do so as well.
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Steps to counter misinformation were not specified in detail; general statements were made instead.
We All Have A Role To Play
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Q6 Partial Answer
Chris Bryant Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
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Lots of people spoke in the debate last Thursday about the hybrid warfare that Putin is effectively waging against the west at the moment. Is the Secretary of State for Defence convinced that the UK is doing enough to tackle the dirty money that comes from Russia into London? Is he convinced that we are doing enough not just on the misinformation that Russia perpetuates here, but on the number of dodgy companies that are functioning here?
The hon. Gentleman will know from my time as Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime that I was always pushing to do more—and there is always more to do. The unexplained wealth orders were one step, but more transparency and more rigorous checks in places such as Companies House are also important steps.
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Did not confirm if UK is doing enough; rather provided examples of steps taken without assessing their sufficiency.
There Is Always More To Do
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Q7 Direct Answer
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May I associate myself very warmly with the comments made about my good friend, Jack Dromey? He was a friend to us all in this House. Given that there is a need for maximum co-ordination and co-operation with our allies if we are to counter the threat from Russia effectively, what measures are the Government taking to enhance our co-operation with our European partners to make sure that we are an effective alliance?
The United Kingdom has uniquely at its disposal a strong partnership with the United States, and a partnership also with the EU and indeed in NATO. We are working all those avenues to make sure that we present a united and strong front. This week, I will visit a number of countries in eastern Europe and Scandinavia, many of which are very, very worried about what has been happening.
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Q8 Partial Answer
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The question addresses Russia's ultimatum to NATO in December, which was seen as an attempt to provoke a response from the alliance. The background involves concerns about Russia's threats against eastern Europe and the Baltic states.
Putin's ultimatum in December placed unrealistic demands on NATO's presence in eastern Europe, giving Russia licence to invade Ukraine. Will the Secretary of State confirm that we will not concede to Russia's threats; that NATO's defence posture in eastern Europe, especially in the Baltic states, will remain unchanged; and that we will commit to a long-term strategy supporting Ukraine through joint training exercises, arms sales, and eventual NATO membership?
We will not concede to Russian threats, the NATO posture in eastern Europe will not change, and we will support countries that wish to have our assistance. The United Kingdom respects the rights of sovereign countries like Ukraine to seek its own security.
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The Secretary did not provide specific commitments on long-term strategies such as joint training exercises or eventual NATO membership for Ukraine, despite being asked about these points directly.
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Q9 Partial Answer
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Concerns have been raised about the need for understanding Russian motivations, highlighted by developments in Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Defence has a dedicated research centre at Shrivenham that is known for its expertise.
Developments in Ukraine and Kazakhstan demonstrate the need to understand Russia's motivations. Will the Secretary of State assure the House that the Russian military studies centre in Shrivenham will maintain its independence following an ongoing review by his Department?
The hon. Member raises an interesting point about independent advice from the Russian military studies centre, and I will look into it. This month, the Chief of Defence Intelligence will be made available to brief Members on the situation in Ukraine.
Assessment & feedback
While acknowledging the importance of independent advice, the Secretary did not give a direct assurance about the research centre's independence after the review.
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