01 Apr
Question
Support for Ukraine

The UK Parliament conducted a Question session focusing on national strategies and support measures for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. The session featured significant insights into the UK's multifaceted approach involving sanctions, community support programs, military collaborations, and humanitarian efforts. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Lammy, provided detailed responses to a series of questions, underscoring the UK's commitment to both immediate responses and strategic partnerships for durable peace. He emphasized efforts to co-ordinate with international allies, especially through NATO and EU discussions, to ensure a unified stance against Russia's aggression. The Homes for Ukraine scheme and additional support for Ukrainian refugees highlighted the humanitarian dimension of the UK's response, alongside its military and economic strategies. Other MPs posed pertinent questions regarding community support for Ukrainian entrepreneurs, the strategic balance of military deployment, and the moral imperative to address war crimes, including the abduction of children.

160,000 Ukrainians

Number of Ukrainian refugees provided with refuge in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

18 months

Extension period for Ukrainian refugees allowed to remain in the UK.

20,000 children

Number of Ukrainian children reportedly abducted by Russia.

Outcome

The session reinforced the UK's sustained, multi-layered commitment to support Ukraine, combining direct humanitarian assistance with broader strategic initiatives through international alliances. It also highlighted ongoing collaborations with European partners to leverage sanctions as a primary tool in limiting Russia's military capabilities. By acknowledging MPs' concerns over potential military risks and humanitarian gaps, the session projected an image of robust parliamentary oversight and consensus on the Ukraine crisis.

Key Contributions

Andrew RangerSpeaker
Labour

Expressed local pride in hosting Ukrainian refugees and the success stories that have emerged, such as a thriving café owned by Ukrainian immigrants. Inquired about ongoing government support for Ukrainian families in the UK and plans for facilitating their eventual return.

Mike MartinSpeaker
Liberal Democrats

Questioned the balance of the UK’s military presence in Ukraine and Estonia, raising concerns about increased risks due to expanded deployments.

Mr LammyForeign Secretary

Outlined the UK's sanctions strategy against Russia, noting significant impacts on Russia's oil revenues. Highlighted international cooperative efforts, particularly within NATO and the EU, to augment economic and military pressures on Russia. Discussed the extension of refuge for Ukrainian families in the UK and ongoing military discussions for Ukraine’s defense.

Priti PatelShadow Foreign Secretary
Conservative

Pressed for updates beyond sanctions to curb Putin’s military capabilities, questioning the seriousness of any peace gestures by Russia.

Calum MillerLiberal Democrat Spokesperson
Liberal Democrats

Raised humanitarian concerns regarding the abduction of Ukrainian children, advocating for UK’s financial support to fill research funding gaps left by the US withdrawal.

Original Transcript
Andrew Ranger
Wrexham
Lab
Question
UIN: 903543

10. What steps he is taking to support Ukraine.

Mike Martin
Tunbridge Wells
LD
Question
UIN: 903550

16. What steps his Department is taking to support Ukraine.

The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Mr David Lammy
12:07

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is leading international efforts to keep up the pressure on Russia through more than 2,200 sanctions, which have helped to reduce Russia’s oil revenue by 25% between January and November 2024 compared with two years prior.

We are of course also working hard to co-ordinate allies. Just yesterday I was in Madrid discussing these issues with European counterparts, and later this week I will be at the NATO Foreign Ministers conference, where the Ukrainians will be as well.

Andrew Ranger
12:08

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?

Mr Lammy
12:08

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.

Mike Martin
Tunbridge Wells
LD

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?

Mr 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. The hon. Gentleman raises a very important issue.

Madam Deputy Speaker
Ms Nusrat Ghani
00:00

I call the shadow Foreign Secretary.

Priti Patel
Witham
Con

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?

Mr 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.

Madam Deputy Speaker
00:00

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

Calum Miller
Bicester and Woodstock
LD

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?

Mr Lammy
12:12

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.

All content derived from official parliamentary records