Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ukraine

Tuesday 22 October 2024 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government announced and signed off 20 million in additional support for Ukraine's energy system.
  • NATO Secretary-General and President Zelensky were welcomed in London, confirming Ukraine's future is in NATO.
  • Government condemned North Korea's reported deployment of troops and arms transfers to Russia in support of the conflict.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex Baker Lab Aldershot
Ukraine
Context

Ukraine is facing a difficult winter due to attacks on its energy infrastructure.

Question

Ukraine is facing a difficult winter. What steps are the Government taking to help ensure that Ukraine is in the best possible position to deal with the challenges that that will bring?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

I agree with my hon. Friend: Putin's shocking and barbarous attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have increased the vulnerability of millions of Ukrainians before this winter. That is why I have announced and signed off £20 million in additional support for Ukraine's energy system. We are working with partners across Europe and in the G7 to support Ukrainians in this area.

Answered
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Q2 Luke Akehurst Lab North Durham
Ukraine
Context

N/A

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that Ukraine's rightful place is with other European democracies in the NATO alliance?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

My hon. Friend will know that the NATO Secretary-General was in London recently alongside President Zelensky, where the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary welcomed them. Our allies have made it clear that Ukraine's future is in NATO and, indeed, in Washington they confirmed that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to NATO membership. We will play a leading role in supporting Ukraine's pathway to membership.

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Q3 Roger Gale Con Herne Bay and Sandwich
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

The UN Secretary-General attended Putin's summit in Russia.

Question

Given that answer, does the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office consider that the reported presence of the United Nations Secretary-General at Putin's summit in Russia will be helpful or unhelpful to Ukraine? If the latter, what is the Minister doing about it?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

While I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question, obviously the meetings that the United Nations Secretary-General chooses to attend are a matter for him, not for the Government. We continue to work with a wide range of allies to support Ukraine across the G7, as we have in relation to today's announcement, and with our partners in Europe.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment and actions regarding UN Secretary-General's visit were not addressed directly.

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Q4 Mark Pritchard Con The Wrekin
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

Worrying reports of North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Question

Does the Minister share my concern about worrying reports of North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine? What message would he give from the Dispatch Box to Pyongyang?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

I absolutely share the right hon. Gentleman's concerns. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that we condemn in the strongest terms the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's continued unlawful arms transfers, and the reported deployments of its troops to the Russian Federation to support the unlawful war of aggression in Ukraine. That is not only in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, but it will also prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people and threatens global security, so we condemn it in absolute terms.

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Q5 Alicia Kearns Con Rutland and Stamford
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

Troops from North Korea have arrived in Russia and are training in Russian fatigues.

Question

To move us beyond the condemnation, in the last week, troops from North Korea have arrived in Russia and are training in Russian fatigues, based on videos that we have seen. In addition, we know that Russia has procured multiple weapons from North Korea to aid the murder of Ukrainians. Putin has seized the escalation ladder, so will the Minister now declare North Korea a combatant in the renewed illegal invasion of Ukraine, démarche the North Korean chargé and confirm what unilateral and multilateral action we will be taking in response?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

I thank the shadow Minister for her points. We absolutely condemn what North Korea is reported to have been doing. She will have seen in our response to the Iranian transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia that we acted strongly, swiftly and firmly. We are closely monitoring what Russia is providing to the DPRK in return for its provision of arms and military personnel. We are deeply concerned about the potential for further transfers, including of ballistic missile-related technology. That would obviously jeopardise peace and stability not only in Ukraine, but across the world, and we condemn it absolutely.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions such as declaring North Korea a combatant or demarche were not addressed directly.

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