But before I begin, I'd like to inform
the House that yesterday we secured a 10
billion pound contract to supply Norway
with at least five Type 26 frigots. This
is the biggest British warship deal in
our history. It strengthens NATO and our
northern flank. It supports 4,000
British jobs and four 400 British
businesses for years to come. and it is
showing that this government is making
defense an engine for growth across the
regions and nations of the United
Kingdom.
>> Turning to Ukraine, Madame Deputy
Speaker,
a few days ago, Ukrainians around the
world came together to mark a special
day, 34 years of their country's
independence, 34 years as a proud and
sovereign nation. And Ukrainians
continue to fight for that freedom with
huge courage, military and civilians
alike, three and a half years on from
the start of Putin's brutal full-scale
invasion.
A secure Europe needs a strong Ukraine.
Their freedom is our freedom. Their
values are our values. And this is why
the UK stands with Ukraine. And this is
why this house stands united for
Ukraine. here.
>> And when Ukraine marks their next
independence day, we all hope to see
them celebrate in a time of peace and
not in a time of war.
>> Madame Deputy Speaker, over the summer,
the UK with our allies have been working
hard to make that hope a reality. The
prime minister hosted President Zilinski
in London. He chaired various coalition
of the willing meetings with President
Mron and he joined European leaders with
President Zalinski to meet President
Trump in Washington DC. I've spoken with
defense ministers across the coalition
about stepping up military support and
about securing a peace after any deal.
and our media, our military leaders have
met multiple times to strengthen
international contributions to the
coalition, also known now as the
multinational force Ukraine.
We welcome President Trump's dedication
to bringing this terrible war to an end,
and we strongly welcome his commitment
to make security guarantees, as he says,
very secure with the Europeans
at every stage. President Zalinski
continues his support for a full
unconditional ceasefire and for talks on
a lasting peace. And yet Putin's
response has been to launch some of the
largest attacks on Ukraine since the
start of the war.
During last week's onslaught on Kev, at
least twisted 23 people were killed,
four of whom were children, including a
2-year-old. And the attack on the
British Council was out in outrage.
A miss a Russian missile fired into a
civilian area as part of an illegal war
damaging a British government building
and injuring a civilian worker.
Now it appears that Putin is refusing a
meeting with President Trump and
President Zalinski.
So while Ukraine wants peace, Putin
wages war. And President Trump is right.
We must continue pushing for peace as
well as increasing pressure on Putin to
come to the table. So we support
measures to disrupt Russian oil oil
revenues and we welcome President
Trump's comments that he is weighing
very serious economic sanctions on
Russia. and the foreign secretary will
have more to say on similar UK action
very soon.
Madame Deputy Speaker, on the
battlefield, intense fighting continues
along the front line. And while Russian
military activity has reduced in the
Khiv and Sunumi oblasts as Russian
ground forces relocate elements of those
forces, over the past two weeks, they
have advanced in the northern Daetsk
region.
troughs remains Russia's focus and its
forces are using a variety of methods to
infiltrate Ukrainian positions, but
Putin continues only to make minor
territorial gains and at a huge cost.
The most recent assessment of the UK
defense intelligence estimates that at
the current pace since January, it would
take Russia another 4.4 24 years to
seize the Donbass
at a cost of almost 2 million more
Russian casualties.
Despite this, the increasing escalation
of Russia's devastating drone strikes is
a serious concern. In July, Russia
launched approximately 6,200
one-way attack drones into Ukraine,
another monthly record. Yet in one night
alone over this weekend, Russia launched
nearly 540 drones and 45 missiles.
So, Madame Deputy Speaker, the UK
government is stepping up our efforts
for Ukraine, and our priorities are
simple. Support the fight today, secure
the peace tomorrow.
on support for the fight. Today we are
providing4.5 billion pounds in military
aid for Ukraine this year, the highest
ever level. And at the last Ukraine
defense contact group meeting with over
50 nations and partners in July, I
launched a 50-day drive to accelerate
the assistance we're giving.
50 days on, the Ukraine has delivered to
Ukraine nearly 5 million rounds of
munitions, around 60,000 artillery
shells, rockets, and missiles, 2,500
unclue uncrrewed platforms, 30 vehicles
and engineering equipment, and 200
electronic warfare and air defense
systems.
Madame Deputy Speaker, we will not
jeopardize the peace by forgetting about
the war.
So, next week I will also co-chair
the the 30th UDCG meeting with Germany's
Minister Pistorius alongside NATO
Secretary General Mark Rutter and 50
other allies and partners.
and I will host an E5 defense minister
summit in London next week where we will
be joined by the Ukrainian defense
minister
where together we will step up still
further our support for Ukraine
and then to secure the peace tomorrow
the UK continues with the French to lead
the coalition of the willing. 200
military planners from more than 30
nations have helped design plans in the
event of a ceasefire.
Plans to secure the skies and seas and
to train Ukrainian forces to defend
their nation.
This week, I will host defense ministers
from across the coalition with French
Minister Lonu to further cement
contributions to that coalition.
And for the armed forces, I'm reviewing
readiness levels and accelerating
funding to prepare for any possible
deployment.
Peace is possible and we will be ready
and the prime minister and I will ensure
that the house is fully informed of
developments in the proper way.
Madame Deputy Speaker,
may I take this opportunity today to pay
tribute to one of the driving figures of
the Coalition of the Willing, Admiral
Sir Tony Radikin,
whose last day as our UK Chief of the
Defense Staff is today.
Tony's had a distinguished 35y year
military career in the armed forces,
serving in operations right across the
globe. He's widely respected and as a
true friend of the Ukrainian people as
President Zalinski himself said yes uh
last week and I'm sure everyone in the
house will join me in thanking Tony for
his outstanding service and wish every
success to his successor as CDS uh air
chief marshall Rich Nighton. And let me
end then by saying that while President
Putin likes to project strength, he is
now weaker than ever.
>> Since Putin launched his illegal
invasion, he's not achieved any of his
strategic aims.
He's lost more than 10,000 tanks and
armored vehicles, and his Black Sea
fleet has been humiliated.
He's forced to rely on states like Iran
for drones, North Korea for frontline
troops, and China for technology and
components. He's using 40% of his total
government spending on the war with
interest rates now running at 18%
and inflation at 9%.
And moreover,
Putin now faces a bigger NATO, 32
nations strong, with an agreement to
raise national spending on security to
5% by 2035. And he faces a Ukraine more
determined than ever to control its own
future.
Madame Deputy Speaker, a secure Europe
needs a strong, sovereign Ukraine. And
we in the Ukraine, we in the UK will
stand with Ukraine for as long as it
takes.
>> I call the shadow defense secretary of
state, James Cartage.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I'm
grateful to the Secretary of State for
Advanced side of his statement. And can
I join him in paying tribute to the
outgoing chief of defense staff, Admiral
Tony Ratakin, who, as he says, has given
such impactful leadership on support for
Ukraine. And I also send my best wishes
to his successor of CDS Air Chief
Marshall Sir Rich Nighton. It was a
privilege to work with both of them at
the MOD. Turning to Ukraine, it is being
widely reported that in his speech to
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
summit today, Vladimir Putin said that,
and I quote, "The understandings reached
at his meeting with President Trump in
Alaska were opening the way to peace in
Ukraine."
>> How utterly cynical. What followed the
summit in Alaska was not peace, but the
brutal bombing of innocent civilians
across Ukraine. In particular, just days
ago, Putin unleashed the second largest
aerial attack of the whole war, killing
at least 23 people. And as the Secretary
of State just confirmed, including four
children. And of course, bomb damage
included the British Council in Kev. We
join the government in utterly
condemning the attack on the British
Council and pray pay tribute to all
their staff playing their part in our
national endeavor to support Ukraine and
pass on our best wishes to the member of
staff who was injured in the attack. We
note that the chief executive of the
British Council, Scott McDonald,
promised to continue operations wherever
possible. Can the Secretary of State
outline to what degree this has been
achieved and what support the government
has provided to assist?
If Putin really wants to open the way to
peace in Ukraine, as he said, he should
recognize that the blame for this war
lies squarely with his territorial
ambitions and that all the civilian and
military bloodshed that continues is
wholly the result of his unprovoked and
illegal invasion. But the reality is
Putin does not accept this basic fact.
In his speech today at the Shanghai
Corporation Organization summit, Putin
is also widely quoted as blaming others
for the war. in particular is
longstanding refrain that the war was
caused by, and I quote, the West's
constant attempts to drag Ukraine into
NATO. Without ambiguity, we and all our
allies must see that the war in Ukraine
is a question of a free and sovereign
democracy invaded without provocation by
a bullying dictator.
>> That is why when we were in office, it
was right to provide such strong support
to Ukraine from the outset of the
invasion, indeed even before it
commenced. and why in opposition we
stand shoulderto-shoulder with the
government in continuing that policy.
And that is why we need to keep
tightening the screws on Putin's war
machine. Moscow should be denied safe
harbors for its tankers and profits. And
Europe should ban Russian oil and gas
sooner than its current 2027 deadline.
The Euroatlantic Alliance must lead a
new Pinsir movement to further constrain
Russia's energy revenues and stop Putin
getting his hands on military equipment.
So, I'm glad that the foreign secretary
will have more to say on sanctions as
the secretary of state said very soon.
But can he confirm if the timeline is
directly linked to US action and would
the UK go ahead with those plans for
tougher sanctions if the US for some
reason did not on any potential end to
the fighting. We all desperately want to
see peace in Ukraine, but we're clear
that this must be a lasting sustainable
peace and that is why security
guarantees are so important. The
Secretary of State referred to President
Trump's commitment to make security
guarantees and he quoted very secure
with the Europeans. What further detail
is he able to share on the likely shape
of any such US security guarantees? On
the coalition of the willing, he states
this would, and I quote, secure the
skies and seas. This seems to miss out
the land force element. Does this mean
the army would only be sent to Ukraine
in a training role? He says that he is
and I quote reviewing readiness levels
and accelerating funding to prepare for
any possible deployment on funding. Does
he expect that to come from the Treasury
Reserve or from the existing MOD budget?
And on reviewing readiness, what is the
time scale of that review? And is he yet
at the stage where urgent operational
requirements are being considered?
Finally, Madame Deputy Speaker, I
strongly welcome the news that Norway
has selected the type 26 made in
Scotland for its future fleet. This is a
huge deal that will support thousands of
jobs, but also one that has been many
years in the making with significant
input and progress under the previous
government.
>> In December 2023, I myself had the
pleasure to visit the Norwegian MOD in
Oslo and I can assure the House that the
type 26 was very much at the top of the
agenda. Just to to remind them that was
in the same week that we announced that
Britain and Norway would lead the
maritime coalition supporting Ukraine's
navy, underlining the strength of our
naval alliance and our joint commitment
to Ukraine. It's clear that a key reason
for Norway's decision is that they face
the same Russian threat as we do from
Russian submarines and want the best
possible capability to respond,
maximizing interoperability with the
Royal Navy. But that Russian threat
arises entirely from Putin's pursuit of
aggression rather than peace. And until
that situation changes in reality rather
than rhetoric, we must continue to be
robust in doing everything possible to
support Ukraine.
>> Secretary of State.
>> Thank you. Well, Madame Deputy Speaker,
I welcome his uh endorsement of the
success in securing the Norway deal. I
do have to say to him there was
certainly ground work done under the
last government and he led a lot of that
in as defense procurement minister. But
I have to say we had a great deal more
to do when we when we took over in July
last year. And frankly uh uh we had to
reboot the campaign which we did. Um and
I'm grateful that we've secured it. Uh
it has huge uh military uh economic and
strategic importance. Can I say uh I
welcome also his continuing support for
the action we're taking to support
Ukraine. He is absolutely right to call
out Putin's remarks at the Shanghai
Cooperation Council. Uh and the pressure
is now on Putin to prove he wants peace
to do what he says he wants. And while
he has sat down to discuss peace with
President Trump in Alaska, he's been
turning up his attacks of course in
Ukraine. Uh he launched this war. he can
stop this war tomorrow if he chooses.
Um, Madame Deputy Speaker, the right
honorable gentleman uh uh asks about
sanctions. He encourages us to take the
uh steps uh further. Uh he'll know that
we've introduced already over 500 uh new
sanctions against individuals, entities,
and ships. Uh we sanctioned 289
vessels as part of the Russian shadow
fleet and very soon the foreign
secretary will announce further UK steps
uh on the security guarantees.
The commitments we've secured already
from the many of those involved in the
discussion are substantial. The
discussions continue. We look for cont
contributions to be further confirmed.
Much
of the shape of any deployment of a
coalition of the willing will depend on
the terms of any peace agreement. And at
this stage, uh I certainly won't want to
offer any more public details on that
because that would only reinforce
Putin's hand and make him and the
Russians wiser.
Chair of the select committee Tamangjit
Singh Desi.
>> Thank you very much Madam Deputy
Speaker. I thank the defense secretary
for advanced sight of his statement.
Wholeheartedly welcome the historic
frigots exports deal with Norway and
join him in paying tribute to chief of
the defense staff Admiral Radakin for
his distinguished decadesl long service
to our country. Now, recent Russian
attacks across 14 different regions of
Ukraine are not actions of peace. Words
and actions must align and it is
abundantly clear that both from
President Putin present a threat to us
all. So with such drastic escalation of
uh Putin's violence and that running
concurrently with peace negotiations
along with Putin's false refraraming of
his invasion as some sort of reaction to
a westernbacked coup. Can my right
honorable friend, the Secretary of
State, shed further light on what steps,
what levers he has pulled to help enable
a peaceful outcome? Secretary of State,
>> it's a truism uh that peace is secured
through strength
and
our task, those countries like the UK
that strongly support Ukraine is to put
Ukraine in the strongest possible
position on the battlefield and at any
negotiating table. That means stepping
up military support for Ukraine now,
which we are doing and we will do
further in next week's uh UDCG meeting
that we I will co-chair. We are stepping
that up with further economic pressure
on Putin, which the House will have a
chance to hear more about and the the uh
foreign secretary will uh uh announce
further measures soon. And it means also
stepping up our preparations for
securing any peace for the long term if
Trump can help lead negotiations that
will lead to a ceasefire and a peace
agreement. That is the way that we
support uh Ukraine now. That is the way
that we can help reinforce the steps
towards the possibility of peace um
tomorrow. And I just say to my honorable
friend, the defense select committee
chair and to the honorable gentleman
from the opposition benches, I will
ensure that Admiral Radikin tomorrow is
aware of the kind comments and I know he
will appreciate that from both sides of
the house.
>> Liberal Democrat spokesperson Helen
Magguire.
>> Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker, and I
thank the defense secretary for advanced
sight of his statement. I'd also like to
join others in the house today in
thanking uh sir admiral sir Tony
Radicanin for his service and wish him
well on his next steps.
>> I was relieved to see the prime minister
joined fellow European leaders in
Washington last month standing
shoulderto-shoulder with President
Zalinski and in the wake of Donald
Trump's appeasement of Vladimir Putin in
Alaska. Despite that share of support, I
still fear that Trump would prefer to
secure a quick and easy carve up of
Ukraine rather than work to secure a
peace which provides justice for Ukraine
and guarantees it sovereignty against
future Russian aggression. That's why I
believe the government needs to continue
to lead from the front, but to take our
European partners with us, we really
need to bolster Ukraine's defense and
punish Putin. In that vein, can the
Secretary of State update the House on
what progress, if any, has been made on
the seizing of the billions in frozen
Russian assets across the G7?
>> Can he also update us on whether any
assessment has been made about the
volume and quality of weaponry which the
siege of those assets could help fund
for Kev or to what use the assets could
be used to support the rebuilding of
Ukraine? We must also be tightening the
screws on Putin's war chest.
I welcome the new 10 billion pound
contract with Norway and the British
jobs and businesses that it will support
in the UK. And this further demonstrates
the need for us to work with our
northern European allies in the fight
against the aggression from Russia. And
I'm pleased that the government has
taken a step to further cut the Kremlin
profits through reduction in the oil
price cap. But this measure must be
accompanied by more work to crack down
on the Russia's shadow fleet as it
continues to trade and transport oil
sold above the price cap. A joined up
approach between us and our allies is
absolutely vital. So, will the Secretary
of State commit to expanding the UK's
designation of vessels in the Shadow
Fleet, including those already
sanctioned by the EU, Canada, and the
US, and will he seek reciprocal
designations from those partners? As we
reach critical moment in negotiations,
we need to be taking all the steps we
can to provide Ukraine with the leverage
and military material it needs. So, will
the Secretary of State consider sending
UK Typhoon jets for use by the Ukrainian
Air Force?
>> State.
Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. Um,
I welcome her strong focus on the need
for further economic pressure on Putin
and on Russia. She will recognize that
the UK is out ahead of many other
countries in the number of vessels we've
now sanctioned under as part of the
Russian shadow fleet. I say to her, we
are always ready to take further steps
to do that. Um, and I hope that she will
see from the foreign secretary very soon
the UK determination to go further still
on economic pressure and on sanctions.
She invites me to offer an update on uh
the progress on use of seized assets.
I'm unable to do that, but she'll know
that this is not just a matter if this
will be effective for a UK um decision
and the detailed work that is still
being discussed with other key allies
does continue. We recognize the
potential of being able to use uh those
seized assets from Russia to help
rebuild and support Ukraine. Uh but that
is something that we are working on. She
urges us to lead European allies. I
think it's um not unreasonable to say
that is exactly what we are doing. Um
not just with the highest level of
military aid this year ever from the UK,
but the way that we've stepped in now to
lead the uh UDCG.
Uh and I will chair the 30th meeting
alongside U. Minister Ptorius next week.
and we've stepped in with the French um
by leading the Europe the coalition of
the willing
uh more than 50 nations part of the
discussions about planning for Ukraine's
long-term future and I will host the
defense ministers alongside minister
Loru this week to discuss that further
but one point for um the honorable lady
in this house
often seen as the European coalition of
the willing or the European UDCG.
These are coalitions of nations that go
well beyond Europe. And I was in Japan
last week and so Prime Minister Ishiba
at Japan has joined the discussions
uh for the coalition of the willing. And
some of the most stalwart supporters of
Ukraine in military aid since the start
of the Russian invasion have been uh
allies of ours, steadfast supporters of
Ukraine from other parts of the world
from Australia to Japan to New Zealand
to Korea. And it just signals for
Putin
not just that Europe stands steadfast
with Ukraine in challenging and
confronting his aggression, but we see
this as a security matter in the Europe
Atlantic which is indivisible as many
other countries do with security in the
Indoacific too.
>> Alex Baker.
>> Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. I
thank the defense secretary for this
update and his continued leadership on
this issue. We've all been so moved by
the extraordinary brave bravery and
resilience of the Ukrainian people in
the face of Russian aggression and in my
constituency we know uh how important it
is to stand by uh our our friends in
Ukraine. In my constituency, I was al
also had the privilege of being able to
visit our armed forces and our industry
and see how much actually they have been
inspired themselves by uh our Ukrainian
colleagues and their innovation on the
battlefield. So can I ask um the
secretary of state to have um a bit of
an update on the important lessons that
the mod have learned from Ukrainians
innovation on the battlefield.
>> True state
>> my friend is absolutely right. It isn't
just that the um
the courage of the Ukrainians is
inspiration to us all including our own
forces. It is a it is that their uh
ability to fight and innovate
in combat is also an inspiration to us.
We tried to capture this in the
strategic defense review that we
published in June. It points the way to
the sort of radical transformation that
we require in our own armed forces and
our own defense system. And I hope that
my honorable friend will see the
hallmarks of that uh very soon when we
publish the defense industrial strategy.
>> Seran Duncan Smith.
>> Um Deputy Speaker, a few weeks ago I
returned from Ukraine with some others
that have been delivering trucks and
medical aid uh to the Ukrainians uh for
use in the front line and number of
trips I've done with others I can see
across the floor as well here. united as
the government is united with the
opposition and the other parties. But
however, having watched the brutality
stepped up by President Putin uh in the
recent weeks and following from uh the
Alaskan conference at Anchorage, I must
say I fundamentally still very
disappointed. Yes, the government is
right. They're bringing together a
coalition of the willing, but the least
willing of all at the moment seems to be
the White House. And my concern is
without the White House's commitment to
showing Putin that his actions have
consequences, then this drags on again
and again. They are the one country that
can really impress upon him. That if
they carry on with these attacks, they
will be sanctioned dramatically and the
weapons will flow like water to the
Ukrainians that they desperately need. I
wonder if the government behind closed
doors could say to the president, "It is
time to follow your words with actions
and not keep on proaricating."
>> Secretary of State,
>> I appreciate the argument that the
honorable gentleman makes. It's
important to recognize that the role of
President Trump is essential and central
into any opportunity to bring the two
sides together for he is playing a role
that only President Trump can play and
he has made clear that on the range of
uh further steps if they become
necessary at his disposal for his
decision uh is including stepping up
economic pressure on uh President Putin
and uh we are ready to respond.
Alongside that we are also ready to take
our own decisions on economic pressure
on President Putin and on Russia. It has
got to be part of what I said to the my
honorable friend the defense secretary
uh select committee chair. It is part of
trying to ensure that the pressure on
Putin, the support for uh Ukraine brings
the two sides uh more rapidly to the
negotiating table and we can get that
peace that we all secure.
>> Mallister.
>> Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. My
Western Barton constituents know the
importance of standing
shoulderto-shoulder with Ukraine in this
fight. Does the minister agree that
investments such as the 250 million
pounds to HMNB
Clyde and the landmark 10 billion pound
deal with Norway, both of which secures
thousands of jobs in the Clyde, many of
whom live in my Western Barton
constituency, all help to show our
strength and deter future Russian
aggression.
state.
>> Um my honorable friend is is absolutely
right and it's a lesson that we took and
have to take seriously from Ukraine that
a when particularly when a country is
faced with conflict or uh is forced to
fight, its armed forces are only as
strong as the industry that stands
behind them. And part of the
significance of the uh frigot deal uh
with Norway is that this will reinforce
our British ship building, our British
innovation and our Brit British
technology base uh across the UK and
especially in Scotland for many years to
come.
>> Dr. Andrew Mir.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I too
congratulate Admiral Satonyi Radicanin
and Air Chief Marshall Sir Rich Knighton
and wish them well. Uh a big well done
too to all involved in the type 26 deal
including my honorable friend the member
for South Suffach. And if I may say to
the um defense secretary uh to cast his
mind back to March when I asked the
prime minister uh whether it would be
folly to put British troops into Ukraine
without a US backs stop without a
guarantee from the White House and the
prime minister agreed it would indeed be
folly. Does that remain the government's
position?
What is the government's position is
that we are discussing the nature of
security guarantees, the contribution
that we can help lead through the
coalition of the willing alongside any
uh American support and together that is
part of the configuration of making
Ukraine strong and creating the
circumstances in which serious
negotiations and we hope a peace
agreement can be reached.
>> Dr. Zubir Ahmed.
Mr. Speaker, can I warmly thank my right
honorable friend for getting this
Norwegian deal over the line? I feel a
singular piece of pride about this
because in my constituency of Glasgow
Southwest and govern will become the
epicenter of the type 26 construction.
Will he undertake to work with me to
make sure that my constituents in
Glasbour Southwest feel the full
benefits of this investment? And in that
vein, will we urge the SNP government to
finally collaborate with us to dispense
their ideological block on the defense
sector to so together, for one of a
better word, we can be stronger for
Scotland.
Well, first of all, Madame Deputy
Speaker, can I say to my honorable
friend, uh, all of us in the House here
appreciate the contribution that his
constituents as part of that government
workforce, uh, make to building the
outstanding British ships. Um the
Norwegian prime minister had a very
telling uh way of explaining the
decision yes uh on Sunday when he said
we weighed two questions in the
decision. Who is our most strategic
partner and who has delivered the best
frigots? The answer to both is the
United Kingdom.
And it is also telling, Madame Deputy
Speaker, that the uh nationalist
Scottish government has yet to welcome
this contract and this success.
>> Chris Cochland.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Um
first of all, I commend the defense
secretary and um Admiral Sir Tony
Radican for your commitment to uh a just
peace in Ukraine. But I do agree with
the right honorable member for Chingford
and Wood Green that the most reluctant
member of this coalition of willing does
appear to be President Trump. And so
does the defense secretary agree with me
that it is particularly disappointing
that he is unable to give an update on
the seizing 300 billion in frozen
Russian assets because the slow progress
on that is something that is perhaps our
strongest potential lever in exerting
pre pressure on Russia to deliver a just
peace.
>> Um I don't entirely agree with the
honorable gentleman. Uh the
the commitment that the uh the
declaration that the president of United
States has made to making the
European-led
uh arrangements for security guarantees
in his words very secure is very
important and very significant. Those
discussions continue. The shape of any
potential and possible deployment to
support and secure a long-term peace
will depend hugely on the nature of the
peace agreement itself. And it's for
those reasons that it is uh not possible
to set out in public at this stage the
details of those. But we continue those
discussions both on the the the
nature of the support that can be given
to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire
and a peace agreement and the sort of
pressure that may be required to make
sure that those serious negotiations can
take place.
>> Emily Darlington.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Well, I
wanted to share with the house the
deepest solidarity from the Ukraine
appeal and the sunflowers Ukrainian
supplementary school in my constituency
of Milton Kees about the recent attacks
in Kiev and on the British Council. The
British Council's vital cultural
initiatives has supported peace and
created community cohesion around the
world. And it's in that spirit that the
Ukraine appeal has created an exhibition
faces of Ukraine Dreams by the children
who go to their sunflower school. This
exhibition will be touring Milton Kees
including Bletchie Park. Will the
defense secretary join with me in
expressing our solid solidarity to the
Ukraine families in Milton Kees, the UK
and still in Ukraine, Slava Ukraine.
>> Secretary of State. Well, indeed, Madame
Deputy Speaker, and not just the
solidarity with those uh Ukrainian
families and children, but also I' I'd
like to pay tribute to the people of
Milton Kees that have opened their homes
to house and home the families of those
Ukrainian uh children. And it is often
the the children and the families that
will feel the threat and the grief most
fiercely. And the fact that they have
expressed such strong solidarity with
those British Council workers in the
face of that attack is something that we
all appreciate and I'd be grateful on
behalf of the House if she would pass
that on.
>> Sir Julian Lewis. I'm sure honorable and
right honorable members on both sides of
the house shared my disgust at the sight
of the killer in the Kremlin having a
red carpet rolled out for him that might
as well have been stained with the blood
of all those who've died in the conflict
which is down entirely to him and him
alone. But when we talk about meaningful
security guarantees, it's perhaps worth
remembering, is it not that the only
reason why when Germany was divided at
the end of the Second World War, that
was a stable division was that both
sides knew that anybody crossing a line
would be initiating an international
conflict. Surely any security guarantee
that doesn't automatically
guarantee the involvement of other
states in the defense of Ukraine will
not be worth the paper on which
>> secretary of state.
So the
uh purpose of the coalition with the
willing force that we are
leading the work to plan for is about
actively securing the Ukrainian skies,
actively making the Ukrainian seas safe
and providing a a presence that will
help reassure
as well as help build up the Ukrainians
to defer to deter and defend for
themselves. It starts from the first
premise that in the circumstances of a
peace agreement for the medium-term and
long-term,
the strongest defense, the strongest
deterrence is the nature and strength of
the Ukrainian armed forces themselves.
That is our purpose and that would be
part of our mission.
>> Joanna Baxter.
>> Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. Can I
firstly start by thanking my right
honorable friend and his whole team for
the incredible efforts that they're
making on this issue.
>> Over the weekend, Russia launched yet
more devastating air strikes in Kev,
killing 23 people, including a
2-year-old child. July was the deadliest
month of conflict since its early
stages, with over 280 civilians killed
and more than 1,300
injured. Russia has once again shown its
blatant disregard for human life,
targeting, abducting, indoctrinating,
and even weaponizing children. Can the
Secretary of State set out what further
steps he is taking to ensure Ukraine has
the means to defend itself from these
heinous heinous crimes?
>> Madame Deputy Speaker, can I pay tribute
to my honorable friend for the
campaigning that she is doing, not just
on Ukraine uh generally, but in
particular to draw attention to this
systematic program that we've seen from
Putin and his troops of abducting uh
Ukrainian children, trying to
indoctrinate them into uh the Russian
way of life. And can I say to in the
discussions that I've had with Secretary
Umarov when he was defense minister and
now as Secretary of the Ukrainian
National Security and Defense Council,
he is leading the negotiations on behalf
of President Zalinski. And some of the
early discussions potentially with the
Russian side are about prisoner of war
swaps and about the return of those
Ukrainian children.
>> Steven Gins.
>> Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Um, can I
welcome the Norwegian investment in
Glasgow's shipyards? They understand,
the Norwegians understand the importance
of European security. The Norwegians
understand the importance of territorial
integrity. The Norwegians understand the
importance of the high north and I pay
credit to those in my own constituency
at RM Condor for their own work in that
particular area. They know that Donetsk
is crime is is Ukrainian. Luhansk is
Ukrainian. Crimea is Ukrainian. Now, the
US ambassador to NATO said recently that
no chunks that were not, and I quote,
earned on the battlefield should be
given over to Russia when he meets with
his US counterpart in a couple of weeks
time. Can he be clear that no chunks of
Ukraine are earned by aggressors on the
battlefield? And Ukraine's integrity,
territorial integrity is testament
regardless of our political allegiance
here.
>> the Ukrainians are fighting for their
territorial integrity. The Ukrainians
are doing the fighting. It's for the
Ukrainians to decide when to stop
fighting and the terms on which they do
so. our job in the UK, my job as defense
secretary is to ensure that we give them
the maximum possible support in the
fight and we'll give them maximum
support possible as they go into the
negotiations. And can I just say uh to
to finish uh the declaration that he
fully supports and I hope he can speak
on behalf of his party for that uh that
no that no that the biggest uh ever
British uh warship export deal uh is
welcome in this house.
>> Alex,
>> thank you deputy speaker. I I want to
start by paying tribute to Andre Perubi,
the former Ukrainian speaker who was
brutally assassinated in his home city,
Liv. He played a key role in the Maidan
uh protest which freed Ukraine of
Russian interference.
Um I really thank my right honorable
friend for raising the issue of British
Council attack in Kev. A man was
injured. We need to remember the British
Council isn't just anybody. It's an
armslength body of the FCDO. It takes
British culture and values and English
language teaching around the world. In
the same attack, the EU delegation
building was also attacked. And we heard
tonight from Bulgaria that Vanderlayan's
plane was jammed by Russia and was had
difficulty landing. Had to use paper
maps to land. We're hearing more and
more, I'm afraid, saying on the streets
that this war is a matter for Ukraine
and Russia. But I think everybody in
this chamber knows that if Ukraine
falls, it won't end there. And this is a
war for all of us and Ukraine are
fighting for all. And I'd like my friend
to reassure me that we are making very
clear that the that we know that Putin's
aggression will not stop at Ukraine if
Ukraine fails. and they they are
fighting for all of us and we'll give
them all the support that they need to
ensure that we are all free in Europe.
>> Madame Deputy Speaker, um my honorable
friend speaks plainly and strongly. Can
I uh recognize the work that he's done
on Ukraine just in the way that
President Zalinski did uh last month
when he awarded my honorable friend the
order of merit from Ukraine.
Um, can I say to him also he's right to
remind the house of the recent
assassination of Andre Perubi and it is
something that should be
>> it's it's a it's a reminder of the
brutality of the invasion. And in many
ways, this wasn't just a this Andre was
not just a uh a leader in the Maidan
uprising. He's an ex- speaker of the
Ukrainian parliament. And in many ways,
his assassination brings home just how
serious uh this is to us in this house.
And finally, the point my honorable
friend makes, which is if Putin prevails
in Ukraine, he won't stop at Ukraine, is
one of the reasons that the British
public, the British House of Commons,
and the British government uh remains so
strongly steadfast in our support for
Ukraine.
>> Sir John Wittingale.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It's 17
days since President Trump rolled out
the red carpet to Putin during which
time, as he has said, Russia stepped up
its bombardment of Ukraine with drones
and missiles. And can I thank him for
his remarks about Andre Perubi uh the
former speaker of Arada. I knew him well
uh and admired him hugely. And actually
last time I met him was when we
entertained him in this house as the
visiting speaker uh who came here and it
is a mark of Putin's hatred of democracy
that he regarded uh the democratic
speaker of a parliament as a uh
appropriate target. Um,
>> does the Secretary of State agree that
Putin at the present time shows no
interest in a ceasefire? And will he do
whatever he can to persuade President
Trump that the only way that Putin can
be made to consider a ceasefire is by
stepping up the pressure on Russia
through extra sanctions and by giving
ever more support to Ukraine.
>> True state. I think the whole house
appreciates the right honorable
gentleman's remarks about Andre Perubi
uh and appreciates the relationship that
he had with him. Uh on the on the
question of uh pressure on Putin to come
to the negotiating table. Um that is a
matter for uh it's a matter for the
nations that stand with Ukraine and
we're determined to play our role. It is
also a matter that is recognized by the
US and the US president. uh he wants
Putin to come to the table. He wants
Putin now to start to act in the way
that he says which is interested in
peace, ready to talk about peace, but at
the moment not yet showing enough sign
of doing so.
>> Luke Charters.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. To
secure the peace in the long term for
Ukraine, we need to support its defense
industrial base and therefore the
financial sector that underpins it. But
I'm concerned that UK export finance red
tape could be limiting UK Ukraine
defense partnerships. And I also believe
we could launch new joint defense
innovation funds. Would my right
honorable friend consider carefully
these ideas and work with me to discuss
how we can support Ukraine's defense
financing system, too?
>> Madame Deputy Speaker, the short answer
is yes. Um the slightly longer answer is
that we are already working hard with
Ukraine on some of these questions of
joint ventures, joint industrial
partnerships and indeed prime our prime
minister Kama in June with President
Zilinski declared when he visited
Downing Street that this is a an area of
reinforcing our industrial
uh connections and joint enterprise that
will help Ukraine in the fight. now uh
will help uh develop Ukrainian industry
but could bring benefits to us and our
armed forces in the future.
>> Richard Ty.
congratulate the secretary of state and
all those involved in the type 26
frigate deal which is great news for all
and for economic growth and reiterate
our continuing support for Ukraine and
also to this government and the
secretary of state to working with other
world leaders in trying to secure a
ceasefire. And I suppose we shouldn't be
surprised by Putin's appalling
continuation of bombing Ukraine. And can
I urge the secretary of state to work
with other world leaders to use the
leverage that I think we still have of
the 300 billion dollars of frozen
central bank assets that I think could
help in the negotiations with Putin.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I
thank the honorable gentleman and I I
note his view on the frozen Russian
assets and I welcome his declaration of
support for uh Ukraine and his
condemnation of Vladimir Putin. Uh the
all party nature of the support for
Ukraine in this house is very important
and it is particularly welcome that he's
here this afternoon and he makes that
clear for the reform party.
>> Serena Breenidge. Thank you, Madame
Deputy Speaker. Russia's aggression
directly threatens our security here at
home. Does my right honorable friend
agree that the push for peace matters
not just for Ukrainian people, but for
all of our security? And we must invest
in the defense industry in
constituencies like Wolverampton
Northeast to deter Russian aggression
and stand in solidarity with Ukraine.
of state.
>> Um I do indeed, Madame Deputy Speaker,
if for a moment this house considers a
situation in which Putin prevails in
Ukraine,
it is not hard to see how that makes
Europe less secure
and a strong Ukraine is essential for a
secure UK and a secure Europe in the
future. My honorable friend urges us to
do more to reinforce the British defense
industrial base and the record increase
in defense spending that this government
is now uh uh committed to investing uh
since the end of the cold war will be an
important part of that and I hope she'll
welcome the defense industrial strategy
when we publish that shortly.
Sir Desmond Swing,
>> given the red carpet treatment afforded
to Putin, will the Secretary of State
remind our principal ally that it is our
co-signitary to the Budapest Memorandum?
Yeah, very good.
>> Um, the the US is well aware that it's a
co-signitary
and everyone involved in trying to
support Ukraine through this war, but
more importantly also looking to the
route to securing a long-term and just
peace is acutely aware of not repo
repeating the mistakes of the Budapast
memorandum. John Pierce.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'd
like to thank the Secretary of State for
his statement and the government's
unwavering support for Ukraine. Given
recent reports that Starlink was
disabled during a major Ukrainian
counteroffensive, highlighting the
dangers of relying on a single
privatelyowned satellite system. Can the
Secretary of State outline what steps
the government is taking with its
European allies to ensure that Ukraine
has a resilient and sovereign
communication system that cannot be
switched off at the whim of one
individual?
>> Here,
>> Secretary of State. Um without going
into the the the details in public, I
can say to my honorable friend, uh
across a range of capabilities where the
Ukrainians are requiring our support uh
and our military aid, we're looking to
provide that.
>> Deputy Madam Speaker, Madame Deputy
Speaker, it's been a long summer. Um
Ukraine needs a just peace. It also
needs financial support to rebuild. The
EU has said it will allow frozen Russian
assets to be used in higher risk
investments to generate more money. What
discussions has the Secretary of State
had about supporting the EU's latest
effort to use Russians assets to provide
vital funding for Ukraine?
>> State. Um,
I've had none of those discussions
myself, but the government has with the
European Union and with other allies
that must be part of any um, uh,
effective plan to make use of the frozen
Russian assets. She will, however, be
aware of the way that we're making
already use of the interest on those
frozen assets, putting them to good use
to make sure that we can support Ukraine
to continue its fight.
John Slinger.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. A
Ukrainian constituent who has just
returned from a visit to Ukraine told me
today that, and I quote, "Russia is
systematically destroying our border
regions and key infrastructure, medical,
educational, civil, governmental, and
business. The scale of the problem goes
far beyond housing or temporary
displacement. It is about the viability
of life across large parts of Ukraine.
This is part of a wider strategy aimed
at rendering Ukraine's borderlands
uninhabitable. Any recovery strategy
will require years of investment,
security guarantees, and sustained
international support. In light of this,
I thank my right honorable friend for
his statement which demonstrates that
British support for Ukraine is
unwavering. Can he confirm that we are
using every tool at our disposal to
ensure that the cynical Russian policy
described by by my constituent will
ultimately be overcome?
>> I can confirm we are doing all we can
and if my honorable friend or his
constituent identifies areas in which we
are not doing that then I would welcome
welcome him tackling me on doing so
Jenkins.
>> Thank you madam deputy speaker. Um, the
House should be grateful to the
Secretary of State for giving this
statement today because it underlines
how the government is determined to keep
this issue at the top of the British
political agenda. Um, but he gave quite
an optimistic assessment of how we, the
Ukrainians and her allies are doing in
Ukraine. Uh, only in as much as Russia
can't win this war. But the risk is and
I hope something he will emphasize to
President Trump as well is that the West
is losing the peace and by losing the
peace we are losing our own security.
But we need to in the words of his own
SDR mobilize the British people to have
a national conversation as to why we
need to step up our efforts. Are we
really giving Ukraine enough? Because I
don't think we are. state.
>> Uh the right honorable gentleman has
really deep experience. Uh so I take his
views very seriously. I would just say
to him uh we are we are doing more this
year than we've ever done before. Uh we
are recognizing that the UK itself on
its own is limited and that we can play
a really important role in stepping up
the collective leadership as we are
doing through the uh the UDCG and the
coalition of the willing. In that way
Britain can play a coordinating role to
contribute the support that Ukraine
needs. And we do so with allies. And
when we do so with allies, we make more
of an impact.
>> Patricia Ferguson. Thank you, Madame
Deputy Speaker. The Secretary of State
will be aware that the Clyde is a wide
river and straddles the constituency of
the honorable member for Glasgow
Southwest as well as my own in Glasgow
West. So I join with my colleague in
welcoming the deal with Norway that was
um concluded at the weekend because not
only will it secure a bright future for
the 100 plus apprentices at BAE systems
on the cloud but it will also secure the
future of ship building on the cloud
including at the Scottish
government-owned Ferguson marine which
has subcontracted to BAE systems.
Perhaps there are actually 10 billion
reasons why the Scottish government
should welcome this deal.
>> However,
>> the Secretary of State mentioned the
demunition of Putin's strength and does
he agree with me that this deal will
help to further that demunition
particularly in the high north?
>> True state.
>> Oh, my honorable friend is exactly
right. This will not just um set set new
standards within NATO of
interoperability and interchangeability,
effectively a combined Norwegian uh UK
anti-ubmarine force. It means that more
frigots, a total of 13 uh anti-ubmarine
frigots between the two nations will be
available to try and will be available
to reinforce the northern flank of NATO
to provide the sort of deterrence
required in order to keep the Russian
threat in check. And just may I say to
my honorable friend, uh she must be very
proud of her Scots uh yard. Uh I I hope
I hope that she will recognize as I do
that this is a deal that will not just
secure for many years the future of
4,000 jobs in the UK. 2,000 of those
jobs are in Scotland.
>> Richard Ford.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Admiral
Sir Tony Radkin is a fine example of
public service and so I humbly agree
with the defense secretary about the
retiring chief of the defense staff. CDS
appeared before the defense committee in
June and said of NATO, quote, "The
crucial thing is whether we are
deterring Russia and whether we can face
down threats from Russia." And he
answered his own rhetorical question
with, "Absolutely, we are." But
following the striking key that damaged
the British Council and the EU's
diplomatic mission last week, can the
defense secretary set out how the UK and
NATO are deterring further attacks that
have symbolic effects like this one?
>> Secretary of State. Well, I I suspect
without wishing to speak for him that
Admiral Radnikin, one of the things he
won't miss in stepping down from the CDS
is uh is appearing before the Defense
Select Committee. Um but I but I'm but
I'm sure he'll still contribute to
public debate on these on these on these
matters. And uh uh
the the honorable gentle make makes a a
a
sort of general point about the uh
attempt to step up our support for
Ukraine. We will always try and respond
to what Ukraine says it most needs. And
as we go into next week's UDCG meeting
that I'll host with uh Minister
Pistorius, that's exactly what we will
try and do.
>> Lawrence Turner.
>> Thank you very much, Madame Deputy
Speaker, and I welcome my right friend's
statement and leadership on this issue.
As the pressure on Ukraine to agree a
ceasefire builds, Russia too escalates
its campaign of aerial attack on
Ukrainian civilians and Ukrainian
civilian infrastructure in the liberated
city of Keron. Russian firsterson drone
operators are turning state killing into
a grotesque spectacle publicly broadcast
which has been christened as a human
safari.
The provision and conversion of
Ukrainian Soviet era missiles into the
Grave Fork system represents both real
material aid and an accomplishment of
British military engineering. Crucially,
it helps to reduce dependency on any
single supply chain uh and technology
for aerial defense. So will the defense
secretary give the house an assurance
that all steps are being taken to
increase both the quantity and the
diversity of air defense systems to
Ukraine. Secretary of State.
>> Yes, we are doing what we can to
increase the diversity and the quantity
of air defense um systems. Um and I'm
proud of what we've managed to achieve
with Gravehawk. I think it's a good
example of two things. is first of all
innovation and secondly a uh a
combination of Ukraine and uh of UK
minds working together and when we do
that we can respond rapidly. We can
respond in a way that meets their needs
but also points the way to a different
future for the way that we develop the
systems that we need in our own forces
for the future too.
>> John Cooper. Thank you madam deputy
speaker and I should declare an interest
in that my eldest son today started work
with fory royal dockyard a key part of
British military infrastructure for over
a hundred years over the summer we saw
Scotland's first minister John Swinny
meet with Ukrainian military personnel
at the Edinburgh military tattoo
incredibly were those brave men and
women to be injured in the line of duty
NHS medical aid sent from Scotland could
not be used to treat them because of a
prohibition put in place by the Scottish
government and they still continue to
refuse to fund war fighting capab
ability in Scotland with defense
reserved to this place. Secretary of
State, how is it possible that the
devolved administration in Hollywood can
damage British interests and security in
this manner?
>> Good question,
>> Um,
>> he poses those questions to me, but
they're clearly matters not for me to
answer, but for the Scottish nationalist
government. Uh, and I
>> I
would would love to see the
uh antagonism
to uh investment in Scotland that
supports Scottish jobs in the wider
defense industry that supports our UK
security of which Scotland plays such a
vital part. That ought to be something
that the Scottish government embraces
and supports rather than resists and
opposes.
>> James Nation.
>> Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. People
in my constituency of Rushcliffe know
the importance of standing with Ukraine
in its fight. And in a recent survey I
did, 87% of them supported this
government's continued ironclad support
for Ukraine, which I think after three
and a half years is an impressively high
figure. Does the defense secretary agree
with me that the push for peace in
Ukraine matters not just for Ukrainians
whose country has been under attack for
over a decade by Russian forces, but
also for our future security here in
Britain and that we must therefore
invest in the defense industry in
regions such as the East Midlands to
deter future Russian aggression.
>> Um the answer, Madame Deputy Speaker, is
yes. And can I also say to my honorable
friend uh
would would he accept and pass on to his
constituents um my appreciation for the
fact that at a level of support for
Ukraine at 87%
the constituents in Rushcliffe are part
of the exemplification of the British
spirit that recognizes that Ukraine is
fighting for the same sort of freedoms
that we value and is fighting for its
own future in the way that we in this
country have done in the past as well.
Jim Shannon.
thank the Secretary of State very much
for for his statement? Uh I know that I
for one look forward very much to his
statements in this chamber because he
invariably brings us good news. Today
he's done that again uh with the the uh
frig uh deal 10.4 uh 10 10 billion pound
order for the five crickets from from
Norway. And minded of course as a farmer
as I am, someone sews a seed but someone
garners the harvest. I'm very clear the
person who garners the harvest is the
person who gets the plots. So
congratulations to the minister for
that. Yeah.
What what what discussion has the
secretary of state had with our American
allies to ensure that the good of
Ukraine is at the heart of any reproach
and that any minerals deal is secondary
to are ensuring that the battle was not
fought in vain, the lives lost were not
in vain and that Putin and the Russian
army will be made accountable for their
war crimes and their reign of terror and
that the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland will continue
always to stand with Ukraine. Secretary
of State. Well,
>> I think this house appreciates his
declaration on behalf of the people of
Northern Ireland standing steadfast with
Ukraine. And I'd just say to say to the
honorable gentleman uh the the support
that the UK government under the
previous government and this is giving
to Ukraine to be able to document in the
most difficult circumstances of an
ongoing war some of the evidence that
will be required to bring those Russian
forces and those Russian leaders to
account after the fighting is over is an
important part of the contribution that
we can take um funding, resources,
expert and legal uh advice is part of
that ongoing um aid that we're providing
to Ukraine for that purpose.
>> And finally, Mark.
welcome the Secretary of State's
statement today and his reiteration that
we will always support the people of
Ukraine given Russia's despicable attack
against civilian targets in Kev, costing
the lives of over 20 civilians,
including children, and damaging a
British council building. It's quite
clear that Vladimir Putin has very
little interest in any legitimate peace
process. And given that reports differ
as well about how committed countries
are to deploying troops in Ukraine to
enforce any potential peace agreement,
can the Secretary of State set out how
the UK is trying to work with our allies
to convince them to back security
guarantees to back peace in Ukraine and
of course state that there is nothing
Vladimir Putin can do now to deter our
support for Ukraine?
>> Secretary of State
There is indeed, Madame Deputy Speaker,
nothing that Putin can do to deter our
support for Ukraine, our support while
it fights, but our preparation for the
moment of peace that we hope will come.
And he invites me to uh set out how we
are developing that. We've had multiple
meetings of our military leaders and
planners over the summer through the
coalition of the willing. Um, I will
host this week a meeting of defense
ministers of the coalition of the
willing that will be designed to make
sure that we maintain our military
plans, but also that we step up the
commitments to contribute at the point
at which we can get a peace uh agreement
in place and that there will be a role
for countries like ours to support
Ukraine, securing that peace for the
long term and regenerating their own
armed forces to deter Russia in future.
>> Can I thank the Secretary of State for
his statement this evening. We now come
to the select committee statement on
behalf of the joint committee on human
rights. Alex Sobel will speak for up to
10 minutes during which no interventions
will be taken. At the conclusion of his
statement, I will call members to ask
questions on the subject of the
statement which must be brief questions,
not speeches. Can I emphasize that
questions should be directed to the
select committee member and not to the
government front bench. Front benches
may take part in questioning. I call
Alex Soel.
>> Thank you uh Madame Deputy Speaker. Um,