General debate on Ukraine, 20 February 2023: Foreign Secretary's opening statement
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly gave a speech in Parliament to open a general debate on the situation in Ukraine, almost 1 year after Putin's illegal invasion.
I beg to move that this House has considered the situation in Ukraine.
This week the war that President Putin expected to last just 3 days, reaches a year in duration. Russian forces have killed thousands of Ukrainians. Eighteen million Ukrainians have left their homes. Thousands have been forcibly deported to Russia. Historic cities now lie in ruins.
Russia has targeted hospitals, schools and energy supplies. And because of Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea ports and its economic blackmail, some of the world’s poorest people are now paying higher prices for food, for energy and for the means of survival.
In the areas liberated from Russian forces, the Ukrainians have uncovered mass graves, as well as evidence of rape and torture on an unimaginable scale.
Putin is responsible for this. His invasion was unprovoked and it was illegal. He could stop it at once, by withdrawing his forces from Ukrainian land. But he is making the lives of millions of people hell for the sake of his imperial delusions.
He blundered into a war he cannot and will not win. Ukrainians were always going to resist a hostile attack aimed at wiping out their country. Early last year in New York, I predicted that if Putin was foolish enough to invade Ukraine, that Ukrainians would defend their homeland ferociously. And I have been vindicated in that prediction.
Today, they are more unified, more proud, more determined than ever. And as President Zelenskyy said, when he addressed my Honourable and Right Honourable friends and those across the House here in Westminster Hall on 8 February, “Freedom will win”.
We, and the whole world, remain united and resolute in our support for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
[Interjection]
The UK and Ukraine stand side by side in the face of this aggression. We have become the closest of friends, and the most committed of partners. We are inspired by their heroism and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. We come together as never before. We share a common purpose.
Current situation
Ukraine’s heroic armed forces have already recaptured thousands of square miles from the Russians, driving them out of more than half of all the territory that they grabbed last year. But Putin shows no sign of withdrawing his forces. If we are to change his mind, Ukraine will need to retake more land back.
Today, the Russian army is on the defensive. Morale is pitiful. Casualties are immense and their troops are running out of key weapons and ammunition. So this is exactly the right moment for Ukraine to seize the advantages. That is why we and our allies must step up our efforts to ensure that Ukraine wins this war and secures a lasting peace. Justice must be served on those responsible for war crimes and atrocities, in accordance with international law.
[Interjection]
Military support
Increased military support to Ukraine is the quickest and therefore most humane way to end this war. I witnessed the extraordinary courage and resolve of the Ukrainian people when I travelled to Kyiv and Irpin 3 months ago.
I saw for myself and I understand fully that they will defend themselves and their land, whatever the cost may be. They will never give in, they will never surrender. So Russia’s untrained conscripts, sent to the frontline of a war that makes no sense to them, will never, never be able to match the Ukraine’s martial spirit. This is why Ukraine is going to win. And this is why we have to ensure they win as quickly as possible.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the UK’s military, humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine since the invasion started has reached nearly £4 billion.
I want to pay tribute and commend my Right Honourable friends, the members for Uxbridge and South Ruislip and South West Norfolk for their decisiveness and resolute in the early stages of this conflict, which gave the Ukrainians a fighting chance, enabled them to defend their capital city and bought them the time that they needed to push back the Russian forces.
We are proud to be the largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States of America. We were the first country to provide the weapons Ukraine needed to defend itself. In 2023 we shall at the very least match the £2.3 billion of military aid we gave last year. And we shall add more advanced capabilities across land, across sea and across air.
[Interjection]
We will give Ukrainian forces the upper hand on the battlefield so they can reverse Russia’s gains and limit Putin’s ability to target civilian infrastructure. We must also develop their force structures and capability so they can build a deterrence force for the future.
Over last 6 months, we have trained 10,000 Ukrainian troops to bring them up to battle readiness. We will upskill a further 20,000 this year. And as my Right Honourable friend the Prime Minister announced last week, we will train Ukrainian fast jet pilots and marines as part of along-term investment in their military capabilities.
Diplomacy
When the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy met earlier this month, they underscored our joint determination to achieve a just and sustainable peace.
And we shall work together in international organisations to achieve that and to defend the principles of the UN Charter.
I am travelling to New York this week to speak on Ukraine in the UN Security Council. I will tell the truth about Putin’s brutality and Ukraine’s heroism. But we must also increase our efforts with partners to tackle the steady drip of poisonous Russian propaganda and lies.
And we will work together to help Ukrainian grain reach world markets. The Black Sea Grain Initiative and ‘Grain from Ukraine’ boost food security for the world’s most vulnerable people.
Economic and humanitarian support
In addition to our £2.3 billion of military support, we are providing more than £1.6 billion in non-military assistance.
Some £1.35 billion in lending guarantees through the World Bank and EBRD, £100 million in direct budgetary assistance, and £220 million of humanitarian support. Our vital humanitarian assistance, delivered through the United Nations, Red Cross and NGOs, is saving lives and helping to protect the most vulnerable in Ukraine and those forced to flee from Russian attacks.
Ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure underscores Putin’s increasing desperation. We have provided £22 million in direct support for Ukraine’s energy sector. This includes £7 million for over 850 generators to ensure vital facilities, like hospitals, have power; and £5 million for safety and security equipment for the civil nuclear sector.
We are working closely with international partners to reduce their energy dependence on Russia. The UK phased out Russian coal from August of last year and banned imports of Russian liquefied natural gas from the start of this year. And alongside the G7 and Australia, in December, we set a price cap on seaborne Russian crude oil to restrict Putin’s primary source of revenue for his illegal war. Despite elevated oil prices, Russia’s Finance Ministry has reported a $47 billion deficit in 2022 because of the decisive action that we have taken.
We will continue to work with partners to cut off Russia’s hydrocarbon revenues and accelerate the global transition to clean, reliable sources of power.
Sanctions
And we have imposed our largest and most severe package of sanctions ever against Russia.
With our allies, we have frozen £275 billion worth of Russian assets. In addition to the 1,200 individuals already sanctioned, we will introduce new measures against those in Russia and outside it who are supporting or profiteering from this war.
We will crack down ruthlessly on those who seek to evade sanctions.
Next steps: war crimes
Abuses and violations of human rights have been committed by Russian forces on a systematic scale. Torture and killing of civilians. Rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war. Forced deportations.
We will not allow these crimes to go unpunished. We support the war crimes investigations both of the Ukrainian authorities and the International Criminal Court.
The UK will also host a major international meeting to support the ICC investigating alleged war crimes in Ukraine in March of this year.
Recovery
When this war is over, Ukraine can never again be left vulnerable to attack. A strong Ukraine must be safe, flourishing and prosperous.
With our Ukrainian friends, we will co-host the 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference on 21 to 22 June here in London.
Together, we plan to mobilise the combined might of public and private finance to ensure that Ukraine gets the vital reconstruction investment that it needs.
Conclusion
I know this House will join me in calling upon Putin to withdraw Russian forces from Ukrainian territory and immediately bring an end to barbaric attacks against civilians.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the Ukrainians have endured months of relentless attacks and bombardment. But their spirit is unbroken.
We share their determination that Putin’s illegal attempted invasion will fail. And that this House demands that justice be done.