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Defence Committee makes statement on the deployment of Russian troops in Ukraine

22 February 2022

Statement from the House of Commons Defence Committee on the deployment of Russian troops in Ukraine:

We express our firm support for the government and people of Ukraine in the face of mounting aggression by Russia. Yesterday’s illegal recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine and the overt deployment of Russian troops into occupied regions of Ukraine is only the latest in a series of aggressive acts by President Putin’s regime. The crisis facing Europe is entirely of Russia’s making and we call on the British Government and our partners in NATO to take practical steps to help Ukraine in its principled resistance to attempts to change international boundaries by force. NATO must collectively step up its support to Ukrainian democracy in the face of any Russian invasion.

Russian actions have strengthened NATO’s resolve and increased international support for Ukraine. We do not believe that the Russian people support the aggressive actions of the Russian government and we urge President Putin to listen to reason rather than to those who seek to reinstate borders which have long since ceased to exist.

The UK and NATO should learn lessons from this crisis and act earlier to support countries facing aggressive threats from larger neighbours.

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