I know you will share my horror and condemnation over the Russian invasion of Ukraine and concern for all those affected on the ground. The actions of Russia are shameful and unjustifiable, and I fully support the measures taken by our Government and our allies to try to bring this conflict to an end.
A number of issues have been raised to me by many of my constituents regarding this conflict and the Government response. I hope this update will help to address these and be informative and reassuring regarding the range of measures we have taken standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies, including NATO, the EU, and the G7.
The first issue raised is the prospect of direct UK military intervention. As set out by the Defence Secretary, UK armed forces will not be deployed in the Ukraine. For the same reason, NATO countries will not implement a no fly zone over the country. Both of these actions would require NATO member forces to come into direct contact, and potentially combat, with Russian forces. That would prompt an immediate escalation of the current situation, risking further lives and reducing any chance of a diplomatic solution.
There are however many other measures which can and are being taken, such as the series of sanctions that have been imposed by the UK and our allies on Russia.
These include:
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Restrictions, including freezing assets, placed on 120 businesses and oligarchs worth hundreds of billions of pounds
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A ban on Russia’s key industries raising finance on UK money markets and preventing Russian banks and businesses borrowing from UK lenders; freezing the assets of Russian banks
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Banning Russia from the SWIFT global payment system
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Banning the export of a range of high-end and critical technical equipment
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Banning access to UK, and now also EU aerospace for Russian aviation
Sanctions are also being applied to Belarus for their role in supporting the invasion of Ukraine.
These sanctions limit the ability of the Russian economy to function, to process payments, to refinance or access reserves, and limit the ability to fund and maintain their military capability. And we will continue to implement further strong sanctions, targeting the individuals and businesses who are supporting, financing or enabling the invasion, while also providing direct support for Ukraine by providing military and humanitarian aid and assistance.
The UK was the first European country to send defensive weapons to the Ukraine, which are being used to defend Ukrainian towns and cities and fight of the advance of the Russian military. On 27 February the Prime Minister announced £40 million of further aid would be sent to the Ukraine to provide vital medical supplies and other assistance. This is in addition to the package of economic support announced already, which includes guarantees of Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) lending and increased financial support available to Ukraine from UK Export Finance (UKEF) – to £3.5 billion; the signing of a new treaty that will help Ukraine access the world-class UK supply chain to enhance its naval capabilities; and a £100 million 3-year package of Official Development Assistance to bolster the most vulnerable parts of the Ukrainian economy and reduce Ukraine’s reliance on gas imports.
But in addition to this, our assistance must also include support for the Ukrainian people who have fled their homes. The Home Secretary has announced that work is underway on a bespoke humanitarian route for the people of Ukraine. Every conflict situation and threat is different and we must ensure we provide support tailored to the situation we face.
The new Ukrainian humanitarian route responds directly to these needs and the requests of the Ukrainian government. It has already enabled dependents of British nationals resident in Ukraine who need a UK visa to apply through the temporary location in Lviv or through visa application centres in Poland, Moldova, Romania, and Hungary. For these, visas existing language requirements and salary thresholds have been lowered and more resource has been sent to these centres so applications can be processed as quickly as possible, with many completed in just hours.
This approach gives British nationals and any person settled in the UK the ability to bring over their immediate Ukrainian family members. Through this extension alone an additional 100,000 Ukrainians will be able to seek sanctuary in the UK with access to work and public services. Where family members of British nationals do not meet the usual eligibility criteria – but pass security checks – UK Visas and Immigration will give them permission to enter the UK outside the rules for 12 months.
We have a proud history of supporting refugees and it is right that we continue to do so in this situation. I have repeatedly stated that our immigration system needs to prioritise applications at source, to provide immediate assistance and ensure there is no need to try to access illegal routes to gain entry to the country. I am proud that we are delivering this for those fleeing conflict in Ukraine and fully support the Government’s response to this crisis.
We must also remember that the Russian people did not ask for this war either and the aim of the measures we take must be to hamstring the Russian war machine, not to penalise ordinary citizens. We all wish to see a swift resolution to this conflict, and so alongside the sanctions and support for Ukraine, it is vital we continue to pursue all diplomatic options available.
For those who wish to directly support the Ukrainian people at this time, a number of charities have launched appeals, including the British Red Cross, and Ukrainian charities such as United Help Ukraine, and Voices of Children, which aims to help children affected by the conflict. There are of course also many other charities also working to provide support, and a number of local community organisations have already donated funds to partner organisations within Ukraine.
It saddens me beyond belief that a human tragedy such as this is yet again unfolding on the European continent. I alongside many others had hoped that we had learned the lessons of the past century. I hope and pray that our actions, alongside those of the responsible members of the international community, helps put a quick end to this conflict and prevents further bloodshed, lives lost, and lives ruined by this senseless violence. This is a defining moment for us all to come together, and I’m proud that the UK, as always, is playing a leading role in this.
