The cost of inaction in Ukraine is much greater than the cost of support: UK statement to the OSCE
UK Military Advisor, Lt Col Joby Rimmer, says that our support to Ukraine is not charity - it is a strategic investment in European security. We will continue to stand with Ukraine - today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would like to start by offering my condolences to Ukraine. Overnight Russia staged horrific air attacks on cities including Kyiv, killing and wounding over a hundred civilians – one of the most devastating airstrikes on Kyiv since this war began.
Madam Chair, in February 2022, President Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine under the guise of a so-called ‘Special Military Operation.’ He expected a swift and decisive victory. Over three years later, that illusion has been shattered. Russia has suffered over one million military casualties – a grim milestone – and more than twenty times the Soviet losses in Afghanistan. The DPRK has suffered over 6,000 casualties - more than half of the 11,000 troops it initially deployed to support Russia’s illegal war. These losses, largely the result of high-risk, poorly-executed attritional assaults, underscore the tragic human cost of this illegal conflict. Let me be clear, we do not celebrate this statistic. Every life lost is a tragedy. Too many families, on both sides, have had their lives irrevocably change by a war of aggression that should never have been launched.
Ukraine remains steadfast in the face of Russia’s unrelenting and illegal aggression. Through the extraordinary courage of its Armed Forces, the resilience of its people, and the unwavering support of its international partners, Ukraine has reclaimed, and continues to reclaim, its territory, and is liberating thousands of its citizens. This is not just a military achievement - it is a testament to the unbreakable spirit of a nation fighting for its survival, its sovereignty, and its future.
At the G7 Summit in Canada yesterday, the United Kingdom and its allies reaffirmed their commitment to securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Only increasing pressure on Russia will force Putin to take peace seriously. That is why our Prime Minister announced a new sanctions package to target sectors of the Russian economy critical to its war effort.
Russia referred to Western Defence spending at last week’s FSC. To clarify – and for transparency – our new Strategic Defence Review does mark a pivotal shift in UK defence policy. It does commit to sustaining £3 billion annually in military support to Ukraine for as long as necessary. It does emphasise the importance of learning from Ukraine’s experience in modern warfare - particularly in drone technology and hybrid conflict - to strengthen NATO’s collective defence. It does signify a landmark change to our deterrence and defence posture: moving to warfighting readiness to deter our adversaries and strengthen security at home and across the Euro-Atlantic area.
At the 4 June Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting, the UK announced a tenfold increase in drone deliveries to Ukraine - 100,000 units this financial year alone - demonstrating our resolve to provide Ukraine with the tools it needs to defend itself. The UK has also committed an additional £247 million in 2025 to train Ukrainian forces under Operation INTERFLEX and pledged £40 million to NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) mission trust fund. These investments are not acts of charity - they are strategic imperatives. Supporting Ukraine is an investment in our collective security, in the rules-based international order, and in the principle that borders cannot be changed by force.
We recognise that doing more will not be without cost. But the cost of inaction is far greater. If we allow Russia to succeed in Ukraine, we send a dangerous message to authoritarian regimes around the world: that aggression pays, and that international law can be ignored with impunity. We must stand with Ukraine for however long it takes to ensure that its sovereignty is restored, its people are safe, and its future is secure. The international community must send a clear and united message: we will not tolerate the use of force to redraw borders or subjugate free nations.
Finally, we must pay tribute to the thousands of women serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to the countless others contributing to humanitarian, political, and security efforts. Their courage and leadership are vital to Ukraine’s defence and to its future. Ukraine continues to stand firmly on the side of peace having committed to an unconditional ceasefire and to making positive progress through diplomatic negotiation. Ukraine has demonstrated resilience and a constructive commitment to international law and human dignity in the face of Russia’s ongoing devastation. We will continue to stand with Ukraine - today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes.