Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ukraine: British Diplomatic Support

Tuesday 21 June 2022 · 9 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK has been providing strong diplomatic support for Ukraine, including military training and high-level diplomatic meetings.
  • Russia is responsible for blocking Ukraine's grain exports, which the UK is working to address through UN negotiations and international engagement.
  • The UK continues to engage with global allies in international forums to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sheryll Murray Con
Ukraine
Context

No specific context or incident mentioned. The question arises out of general concern about the effectiveness of British efforts.

Question

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of British diplomatic support for Ukraine.

Answer from James Cleverly

The UK has been steadfast in its diplomatic support for Ukraine, including a major training programme for Ukrainian armed forces. The Prime Minister met with President Zelensky to discuss the situation, emphasizing ongoing efforts to strengthen Ukraine's position against Russia.

Answered
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Q2 Claire Coutinho Con East Surrey
Ukraine
Context

The MP acknowledges the work done on diplomacy but specifically questions the progress of discussions to end the grain export blockade.

Question

I was pleased to see that the leaders discussed ending the blockade of grain in the south. Will the Minister update the House on how those discussions went?

Answer from James Cleverly

Russia is responsible for blocking Ukraine's grain exports, attempting to cripple its economy. The UK supports the UN efforts to negotiate a safe corridor for grain exports and engages internationally to call on Russia to end the blockade.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific progress of discussions was not provided, only general statements about Russian responsibility and UK support.

How: Under Review, International Efforts

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Q3 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Ukraine
Context

The MP met a Ukrainian family in his constituency who expressed gratitude but emphasized the need to restore full sovereignty to Ukraine. The question arises from discussions about support for Ukraine.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend update the House on recent conversations that he has had with global allies on how we can take a co-operative approach with international partners to ensure that [Ukraine regains sovereignty and territorial integrity] happens?

Answer from James Cleverly

Engagement with global friends and allies on supporting Ukraine's sovereignty continues. The issue will be raised in various international meetings such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, G7, G20, and NATO meetings.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details about conversations or actions were not provided; only general statements on engagement were given.

How: Engagement At Various Levels, Raising The Issue

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Q4 Sheryll Murray Con
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP seeks information on resources available to assist Ukraine with prisoner exchanges.

Question

What resources is the Department making available to assist Ukraine with prisoner of war swaps?

Answer from James Cleverly

Foreign nationals captured must be treated as prisoners of war, adhering to international humanitarian law. The UK will continue liaising with Ukrainian officials on prisoner treatment and negotiations with Russian forces.

Answered
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Q5 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP acknowledges the united support for Ukraine but seeks information on assistance given to tackle Russian disinformation.

Question

May I ask the Minister sincerely what assistance the British Government and NATO allies are giving to the people and Government of Ukraine to tackle Russian disinformation?

Answer from James Cleverly

Disinformation is a theatre of war. The UK works closely with international friends and allies to counter disinformation and cyber-attacks, as recognized in the integrated review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific actions were not detailed; only general statements about collaboration were provided.

How: Integrated Review, Close Work

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Q6 Catherine McKinnell Lab Newcastle upon Tyne North
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP highlights the severe impact of grain shortages and drought in east Africa, citing reports from Save the Children and Oxfam. She seeks commitment to front-load future resilience funds.

Question

Will the Minister commit to front-loading future resilience funding to bring forward funds now to prevent a famine?

Answer from James Cleverly

Vladimir Putin's blockade is causing grain shortages. The Foreign Secretary has committed to prioritizing the humanitarian response in future funding for the Department, highlighting its importance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to front-loading funds; only a general commitment was provided.

How: Humanitarian Response Priority

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Q7 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Taxation Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP discusses the impact of international aid cuts on efforts to address grain shortages in east Africa, questioning if reversing these cuts would build a stronger coalition against Putin.

Question

Does the Minister agree that it would be easier to build a coalition against Putin across the developing world in particular, and of course morally right, if we reversed the cuts to international aid or kept them?

Answer from James Cleverly

The Minister disagrees with conflating two issues. Putin is solely responsible for grain export blockades; the UK supports efforts to facilitate grain exports but emphasizes Russian accountability.

Not addressed: The MP's suggestion was not directly addressed; instead, the Minister focused on attributing responsibility to Russia.

How: Conflating Issues, Russian Accountability

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Q8 Stephen Doughty Labour (Co-op) Cardiff South and Penarth
Ukraine
Context

The shadow Foreign Secretary and Stephen Doughty met a delegation of Ukrainian MPs who reported the devastating impact of Russia's illegal actions on civilians in Ukraine.

Question

We need to stay the course in our support for Ukraine, which will involve substantial costs. Will he look again at not only freezing Russian assets but their seizure and repurposing to ensure that we can support humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine?

Answer from James Cleverly

We are looking at the issue raised on seizures and repurposing the value of those seizures. Nothing is off the table, and the pain and suffering inflicted by Putin must be paid for, and paid for by them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify any timeline or specific commitment to seize and repurpose Russian assets.

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Q9 Alyn Smith
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

There is concern about politically motivated appointments at home, job losses across the civil service, and a cut to the 0.7% commitment on aid.

Question

Surely now is the time to reverse all that talk and actually support civil servants doing tough jobs in tough times?

Answer from James Cleverly

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my ministerial colleagues liaise regularly with civil servants, who are focused, motivated, and determined to help deliver UK Government priorities such as supporting Ukraine and dealing with food shortages caused by Putin.

Not addressed: The answer does not address any specific actions to support civil servants facing difficult circumstances or the impact of job losses and aid cuts.

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