This afternoon, I was delighted to speak in a debate in the House of Commons on the situation in Ukraine.
At a time when Ukraine’s army was making sweeping gains on the battlefield, this was a timely debate on the support this country has given to them. Chief among my remarks in this matter was the ongoing support for those who have been forced to flee.
In the past I have met with Ukrainian families who have made Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner their home over the last six months, and I continue to engage with Hillingdon and Harrow who are chiefly responsible for providing local support.
Highlighting the incredible work of our two local authorities, I set out that the Government must continue to provide support in the long term. This importantly includes ensuring access to education, healthcare, and other services.
Further, in a wider geo-political context, we know that delving long-term peace is only possible through a unified response by the West. While the NATO partnership remains steadfast, we must work with our European colleagues at every level. Pre-empting the upcoming meeting of the new European political opportunity, I urged Ministers present to ensure that we cooperate with allies to both deliver justice for the actions of Russia and to push for cordial relations with a future Government of Russia, should the current President be removed.
Finally, I moved on to the issues of cyber security that had been raised by the Home Affairs Committee. Ensuring the robustness of our cyber defences is paramount to ensuring western unity in the face of Russian aggression. As I set out in my closing remarks we must stand united with a constituency of purpose across the West.
