Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Ukraine

Tuesday 1 April 2025 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Andrew Ranger inquired about the Homes for Ukraine scheme and mentioned specific Ukrainian families welcomed in Wrexham.
  • Mike Martin questioned the Foreign Secretary about the risk of deploying British troops to Ukraine and its impact on UK security.
  • Priti Patel asked about the continuation of efforts to constrain Putin's reserves and assets, including discussions on oil caps and asset seizures.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Ranger Lab Wrexham
Ukraine
Context

The MP references local examples of Ukrainian families, including Yaroslav and Oksana who opened a café in Wrexham after fleeing Ukraine due to Russia's invasion.

Question

I am incredibly proud that, since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Wrexham has welcomed many Ukrainian families. Among them are Yaroslav and Oksana, who had long dreamed of opening a café in their home town of Chortkiv. Despite the war preventing them from realising that dream at home, they now own a thriving business on Wrexham High Street. How are the Government continuing to support Ukrainian families who play a big part in communities across Britain, as well as those who, at some point in the future, may wish to return to Ukraine when the situation allows?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr David Lammy)

I am proud that the British people across our country have opened their homes and their hearts to Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s brutal war. The Homes for Ukraine scheme has helped more than 160,000 Ukrainians to find refuge here, and since 4 February, Ukrainian refugees can apply to remain for an additional 18 months while continuing to receive vital support.

Answered
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Q2 Mike Martin Lib Dem Tunbridge Wells
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP refers to substantial British engagement with, and deployment to, Estonia. The question arises from concerns about the risk of deploying additional troops to Ukraine.

Question

As the Foreign Secretary knows, we have substantial engagement with, and deployment to, Estonia. Talk of peace in Ukraine is of course welcome and Britain should play its role in supporting that peace, but does he accept that any deployment of British troops to Ukraine increases the risk to the UK and its forces in Estonia?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr David Lammy)

The hon. Gentleman should know that the UK’s commitment to the security of Estonia is iron-clad, and made real by our NATO forward land forces deployment. Discussions regarding how our military can support Ukraine’s future security arrangements are ongoing, including with NATO allies and Secretary-General Rutte. Part of the discussion for countries committed to the coalition of the willing is about ensuring that those countries on the frontline are not left without adequate support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific risk to UK forces in Estonia from deploying troops to Ukraine was not directly addressed; instead, focus was placed on discussing ongoing security arrangements with NATO allies.

How: Discussing Ongoing Security Arrangements, Mentioning Discussions With Nato

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Q3 Priti Patel Con Witham
Ukraine Brexit Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP references ongoing coverage of tentative steps towards a Black sea ceasefire, emphasizing the need to continue constraining Putin’s military efforts.

Question

The whole House continues to stand united with the people of Ukraine in their existential struggle. Although there has been much coverage of tentative steps towards a Black sea ceasefire, does the Foreign Secretary agree that, with the brutal war raging on land, we must continue to constrain Putin’s war machine with every tool at our disposal? Could he update us on his plans for doing so beyond sanctions? Does he agree that the onus remains squarely on Putin to prove whether he is in any way serious about the kind of lasting and just peace that President Zelensky wants to see?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr David Lammy)

The right hon. Lady should know that, with EU colleagues yesterday, at the G7 a few weeks ago and, I am sure, with colleagues as I head to NATO, we are discussing an oil cap in particular and how that would limit Putin’s reserves. We continue to discuss not just the freezing of assets but the seizing of assets. We recognise that some European colleagues are more exposed than we in the UK are. Nevertheless, why should we use taxpayers’ money? We should use Russian money that has caused so much damage in Ukraine. Of course, we continue to look at the arsenal of sanctions that we can use, and I am sure that I will have more to say on that in the coming weeks.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific plans for constraining Putin’s war machine beyond current measures were not detailed; instead, focus was placed on ongoing discussions at various international forums.

How: Discussing Ongoing Discussions With Eu And Nato

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Q4 Calum Miller Lib Dem Bicester and Woodstock
Ukraine
Context

The MP references the abduction of over 20,000 Ukrainian children by Vladimir Putin's regime and emphasizes the importance of tracking these children to ensure their safe return.

Question

Of all the horrors that Vladimir Putin has inflicted on Ukraine, the abduction of more than 20,000 Ukrainian children is one of the most vile. It threatens to rob Ukraine of its future, which is surely Putin’s ultimate goal. The Prime Minister praised the work of Kyiv’s Bring Kids Back initiative last week. Will the Foreign Secretary now commit to the UK filling the funding gap left by the Trump Administration’s withdrawal of funding for Yale’s humanitarian research lab, so that it can continue to research Russia’s war crimes, especially to track the whereabouts of these children, so that they can be brought back home?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr David Lammy)

It was important for me to meet Madam Zelensky to discuss this issue when I was last in Ukraine. The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty), also met the relevant Minister in Ukraine to discuss this issue just a few days ago. I can absolutely give an undertaking to continue to support the group. It is not our assessment that we can meet the shortfall left by the withdrawal of USAID—United States Agency for International Development—funding, but we will continue to work with partners across Europe on this important issue, which is very personal to me.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The commitment to fill the funding gap was not explicitly provided; instead, an undertaking to support the group and continued collaboration with European partners was offered.

How: Commitment To Continue Supporting The Group, Acknowledgment Of Limitations In Meeting Usaid Shortfall

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