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. The UK will also host a major international meeting to support the ICC investigating alleged war crimes in Ukraine in March of this year. Russian forces have killed thousands of Ukrainians. We support the war crimes investigations both of the Ukrainian authorities and the International Criminal Court. When the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy met earlier this month, they underscored our joint determination to achieve a just and sustainable peace. The Ukrainians have endured months of relentless attacks and bombardment. I beg to move that this House has considered the situation in Ukraine. 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. Forced deportations. The UK’s military, humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine since the invasion started has reached nearly £4 billion. Over last six 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. 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. When this war is over, Ukraine can never again be left vulnerable to attack. A strong Ukraine must be safe, flourishing and prosperous. 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. 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.
Military Support
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. 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. 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. Mr Deputy Speaker, With our Ukrainian friends, we will co-host the 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference on 21-22 June here in London. 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.
