Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Military Aid to Ukraine

Monday 24 March 2025 · 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 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK is leading efforts with France to pull together a coalition of nations to help ensure lasting peace in Ukraine.
  • Supporting Ukraine is crucial for European and UK security, and the Government plans closely with Ukraine to provide the necessary support.
  • The UK and France are working together to meet Ukraine's military requirements despite challenges in defense industry cooperation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ashley Fox Con Bridgwater
Ukraine Defence
Context

The UK is providing £4.5 billion in military support this year, the highest ever sum.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure that UK military aid is adequate to meet Ukraine’s capability requirements?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

As the Chief of the Defence Staff said over the weekend, no one should doubt that the work that the UK is leading with France to pull together a coalition of nations willing to step in and help ensure lasting peace in any negotiated settlement in Ukraine is critical and substantial. The UK is determined and will lead that effort.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not provide specifics on UK forces deploying without US support, focusing instead on coalition efforts with France.

How: Changing The Subject To Coalition Efforts

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Q2 Tom Rutland Lab East Worthing and Shoreham
Ukraine
Context

The UK is providing more financial aid through military support than at any time since Putin’s illegal invasion.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that it is crucial to wider European security, and to our own security here in the UK, that we continue to support Ukraine and ramp up the pressure on Putin?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

I do indeed. Putting the Ukrainians in the strongest possible position as they choose to go into discussions is part of the responsibility and commitment of this Government. We plan very closely with Ukraine the support we provide, and our 2025 plan to support Ukraine has been developed with the Ukrainians and reflects what they need most: drones, air defences and ammunition. That is why this month the Prime Minister announced a £1.6 billion deal to supply more than 5,000 lightweight multi-role missiles for air defence that were built in the UK.

Answered
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Q3 Julian Lewis Con New Forest East
Ukraine
Context

The UK is providing record levels of military support to Ukraine.

Question

In this age, when the plot of “The Manchurian Candidate” appears more like a documentary on US politics than a work of fiction, have the Government received any indication that their efforts militarily to support Ukraine would be actively opposed or blocked by the Trump Administration?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

The Prime Minister has made it clear that, in the context of a negotiated peace, the security arrangements or guarantees in Ukraine will need US support. I have made the same point strongly in my discussions with Secretary Hegseth.

Partly answered

Not addressed: He did not provide specific indications but mentioned ongoing discussions and the necessity of US support for security guarantees.

How: Changing The Subject To Ongoing Discussions

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Q4 Paul Waugh Labour (Co-op) Rochdale
Ukraine
Context

The UK is providing record levels of military support to Ukraine.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that it is important to call out the Russian lies and propaganda that have been propagated of late, including the lie that somehow Ukraine is not a real country?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

My hon. Friend is right. The first line of defence for the UK and for Europe is in Ukraine. The Ukrainians share our values and are fighting with huge courage—military and civilians alike. It is our job to stand with them during that fight to safeguard their future and their ability to make their own decisions as a country.

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Q5 James Cartlidge Con South Suffolk
Ukraine Defence Brexit
Context

The UK is leading efforts with France to support Ukraine.

Question

In fact, in every one of his answers he stressed the amount of work we are doing with France. Is it therefore not extraordinary that, at the very same time, France should be working to undermine our defence industry by having us excluded from a £150 billion European defence fund?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

I just ask the hon. Gentleman to drop that Brexit rhetoric. We are leading efforts with the French Government and the French military to meet the challenge of the US and the requirements of Ukraine to have a coalition of countries willing to stand with Ukraine in the context of a negotiated peace, to help them secure enduring stability and deterrence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not address whether France is undermining UK defence industry but focused on coalition efforts.

How: Changing The Subject To Coalition Efforts

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