Thank you for contacting me about the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin, enabled by Belarus, has unleashed a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by land, sea and air. This is a premeditated and wholly unprovoked attack, barbaric in execution, on a sovereign democratic state, and I strongly object to your view that it need not concern the UK.
The UK – indeed, the world – cannot stand idly by whilst Russian troops lay siege to once peaceful European cities, whilst tanks tear through towns and villages and ordnance rains down indiscriminately on homes and hospitals. We have the moral duty to respond to these horrific acts, which are not only an attack on the principles of the UN Charter but also amount to war crimes.
It is right and proportionate therefore that the UK and our allies both continue to sanction Russia (and Belarus) and support the courageous people of Ukraine in repelling the invasion, including through the provision of military, economic and humanitarian aid.
The Ukrainian people ask for nothing more than to live in peace and security, in the same way that families up and down the UK do too. We cannot allow Putin to succeed in denying this to the people of Ukraine. Putin must fail – and we must work to ensure he does.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.