Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is completely unprovoked, a flagrant breach of international law and the most serious threat to world peace since the second world war. Today we must all stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and give as much assistance to them as we can, while also making sure that Russia pays a high price for its aggression.
I have visited Ukraine many times in the past ten years. I was Chair of the British Ukraine All Party Parliamentary group from 2010 to 2020 except for the period that I was in Government. I visited the Maidan in Kyiv shortly after the corrupt regime of the previous President Yanukovich was overthrown in 2014. I have spoken out many times in Parliament and elsewhere against Russian aggression, first with the illegal annexation of Crimea and then by proxy in Eastern Ukraine. In 2017, I visited Avdiivka in Donbas just a few hundred yards from the area controlled by Russian backed separatists and in 2018, I went to Berdyansk and Mariupol, two ports on the Sea of Azov which was being blockaded by Russia. I also was an official observer three times in 2019 in the elections which saw the overwhelming victory of President Zelensky and his Servant of the People party. I am proud to have been awarded both the Medal of Honour by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Order of Merit by President Zelensky.
Ukraine has had many challenges but the courage of its people first during the protests against Yanukovich even under sniper fire and now in fighting the Russian invaders is extraordinary and inspiring. Ukraine is an independent sovereign nation which upholds democracy and western values. Its Government, overwhelmingly endorsed by its people in the most recent elections, have made clear their determination to join the free nations of the Western World and in due course to become members of the EU and NATO. As an independent sovereign state, they are fully entitled to do so. It is their success which so frightens President Putin whose declared ambition is to restore the power and borders of the Soviet Union.
The war that Putin has launched is not just against Ukraine but against democracy and the values that we all hold dear. His willingness to tear up the pledges that Russia has made in the Helsinki Final Act, the UN Charter, and most recently the Minsk Agreements shows that this is not someone who we can trust or do business with. It is essential for global security that his aggression is not allowed to succeed.
Last week, I led the UK Delegation to the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna. I was proud to stand alongside the Head of the Ukrainian Delegation, Nikita Poturaiev MP (pictured) and in the debates I was able to refute the ludicrous attempt at justification of Russia’s actions by their own delegation. The Assembly which comprises 53 nations was united in its condemnation with the exception of just two Members – Russia and Belarus.
Statement of the OSCE PA leadership supporting the people, government and parliament of Ukraine.
I very much welcome the leadership that the UK Government has shown both in supporting Ukraine and in seeking the toughest sanctions against Russia. Both must be increased further if Russia continues its aggression. I have many Ukrainian friends and have already heard heart-breaking stories from them of the increasing loss of life.
While we cannot send troops, I hope that all Western nations will do all they can to assist those who are fighting to defend their country and also the innocent civilians being forced to flee. Russia’s actions are likely to bring painful consequences for us all in terms of higher energy costs, a surge of refugees and the damage to world order and international law. However, these are small compared to the agonies of the innocent people of Ukraine and it is them who we must do all we can to support.
