7 March 2022
Statement – Response to War in Ukraine

The past fortnight has seen hundreds of emails, letters and calls to my office from constituents about the need for the UK to do more following the shocking, barbaric and disgraceful attacks by the Kremlin forces on an innocent democratic European neighbour.  

That’s why, with events moving fast, I took the time to read through them all and consider a number of very important points that I want to address in turn now:

1) Sanctions 

Firstly, it is clear that the only language that Putin and the Kremlin respect is power and money. NATO has been clear that our priority must be to give as much indirect support as we can to Ukraine without breaching NATO’s treaty undertakings.  

Individual nations are free to decide and supply weapons and assistance unilaterally and I’m proud that the UK has been an early, leading and vital defence supplier to Ukraine with large amounts of anti-tank and anti-aircraft technology, as well as technical support, provided to the Ukrainian defence. UK support for Ukraine so far has included measures such as:

--- The UK has trained over 22,000 members of the Ukrainian army through Operation ORBITAL and, since 2019, assisted Ukraine to build up and sustain a naval capability.

--- In the months prior to the invasion, the UK provided extra support in the form of 2000 anti-armour missiles.


--- The UK has sent further military support (lethal aid in the form of defensive weapons, and non-lethal aid such as body armour and helmets) to Ukraine since the invasion.

--- The Defence Secretary recently hosted 25 countries as part of an international conference of donors for lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine, coordinating donations and organising aircraft and support for donations to be delivered.

--- More than 1,000 British troops have been made ready to support NATO and allies in the event of a humanitarian crisis. These troops are at readiness in the UK to support a humanitarian response in the region should it be needed. 

--- On his visit to Poland on 1 March, the Prime Minister announced that the UK is committing another £80m in aid to Ukraine to save lives, protect vulnerable people inside the country and in the wider region and to tackle the growing humanitarian crisis.

--- After the £100m economic package for Ukraine and £40m in humanitarian aid announced in February, this brings the UK’s overall aid support for Ukraine during the current crisis to £220 million.

--- The UK is also guaranteeing up to $500 million of loans to Ukraine through Multilateral Development Banks.

--- The Government is also matching the first £20 million donated by the British public to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. (For more information, please see: 
https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal.)


 

2) Deeper UK and NATO Military involvement

To prevent escalation of further military horrors, however, NATO, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet have decided not to take the huge step of providing air cover via the RAF or troops on the ground which the advice from the armed forces has been would risk massive escalation and the risk of a Russian declaration of hostilities directly against UK citizens and assets. The UK continues to provide active support for Ukrainian defence forces which we can and should all be proud of. 

 


3) Visas 

Many are understandably asking why we aren’t processing visas and doing more, faster. Please be assured that I have raised this with Ministers in the Home Office as a matter of the greatest urgency and I am currently liaising with them on this. Along with other colleagues in Parliament, I will be doing all I can to find a resolution as quickly as possible.

So far, the Government has already announced changes which will allow an estimated one hundred thousand close family members of British nationals or other people settled in the UK to come here immediately alongside two further routes to the UK potentially for tens of thousands more. The Ukrainian Family Scheme, which will significantly expand the ability of British Nationals and people settled in the UK to bring family members to the UK, extends eligibility to adult parents, grandparents, children over 18, siblings, and all of their immediate family members. Under this scheme, which will be free, those joining family in the UK will be granted leave for an initial period of at least 12 months. They will be able to work and access public funds. 

Eligible Family members who have already made applications under the existing family rules will be considered under the Ukrainian Family Scheme if they do not meet the family rules. They will also have their application fee and any applicable Immigration Health Surcharge Payments refunded. The Government is also opening a Ukrainian Sponsorship Humanitarian Visa Offer which will provide a route to the UK for Ukrainians who do not have family ties with the UK but who we will match with individuals, businesses, community organisations, or Local Authorities willing and able to act as a sponsor.

 


4) Humanitarian aid for refugees 

The scale of the horror of Russian violence is driving a massive refugee and humanitarian crisis out of Western Ukraine, principally to Poland in the EU who have opened their borders. 

It’s been truly striking and heart-warming to see the scale of humanitarian support from UK citizens - including many here in Mid Norfolk - wanting to reach out to Ukrainians. Only this week I was liaising with Paul and the team at the Railway Tavern in Dereham as they looked to get their articulated lorries of aid to Poland. 



5) Russians in London / UK 

The issue of sanctions on Russians living in London, donations to all political parties and other causes and business interests is serious. 

Whilst none of us want to trigger unjustified attacks on innocent Russians here as emigres from the Putin regime, or as legitimate students or artists or scientists escaping from Putin’s Russia, I do think we need to start getting much tougher on known allies of Putin like the owner of Chelsea FC Roman Abramovich, and the others who have huge houses in central London and enjoy all the trappings of London and its financial services to help launder and conceal their often criminal wealth.  

We need to be careful not to criminalise legitimate dissidents who have fled Putin to come to London and become UK citizens and work and invest and pay taxes here. But we should stamp down hard on the Putin Kleptocrats who have treated London as a playground. 

That's why, in lockstep with allies around the world, the UK is:

--- Sanctioning Russia's Central Bank, banning the Russian State and all Russian companies from raising funds in the UK, and freezing the assets of all Russian banks. 

--- Shutting off Russian banks' access to the global financial system by blocking access to SWIFT.

--- Sanctioning President Putin, his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, leading oligarchs and hundreds of individuals, entities and their subsidiaries at the heart of his wicked regime. 

--- Strengthening export controls against Russia by banning the export of high-end and critical technical equipment and components in sectors including electronics, telecommunications, and aerospace, thereby degrading Russia's military and economic development. 

--- Sanctioning members of the Russian Duma and National Security Council for their support for the invasion.

--- Banning Aeroflot, Russia's national airline, and all other Russian commercial and private jets from UK airspace.

--- Denying access to UK ports to ships owned, controlled, charter of operated by anyone connected to Russia as well as any vessel registered in Russia or flying the Russian flag.

--- Imposing new restrictions to cut off wealthy Russians’ access to UK banks.

--- Imposing sanctions on Belarus for its complicity in Putin's invasion.

--- Extending a Crimea-type embargo to occupied territory in the breakaway Ukrainian republics.

--- Intensifying sanctions enforcement, with new powers for law enforcement and a specialised Kleptocracy unit to crack down on companies that breach sanctions.

--- Bringing forward measures from the Economic Crime Bill early which strengthen Unexplained Wealth Orders and broaden their scope, cracking down on corrupt elites in the UK.

With news breaking by the hour, I am monitoring the situation very closely and ensuring that all your concerns are raised at the very highest levels of government.

Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me on what is a profoundly tragic issue for the UK, Europe and the world.

 

To see my previous webstory about some of Mid Norfolk’s efforts to support Ukrainian refugees, please click here.

George Freeman MP