Commons debate highlights British unity on Ukraine

Defence Secretary John Healey and Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge both addressed the Commons on 1 September, setting out cross-party support for Ukraine while also testing the Government on the detail of its strategy.

Healey described the heavy toll of Russia’s ongoing assault. “On the battlefield, intense fighting continues along the frontline. While Russian military activity has reduced in the Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, over the past two weeks they have advanced in the northern Donetsk region. Pokrovsk remains Russia’s focus … but Putin continues to make only minor territorial gains, at a huge cost,” he said.

According to UK defence intelligence, “at the current pace since January, it would take Russia another 4.4 years to seize the Donbas, at a cost of almost 2 million more Russian casualties,” Healey told MPs. He added that July saw a record “6,200 one-way attack drones launched into Ukraine”, with nearly 540 drones and 45 missiles used in a single night over the weekend.

Turning to Russia’s wider position, Healey argued: “While President Putin likes to project strength, he is now weaker than ever. He has lost more than 10,000 tanks and armoured vehicles, and his Black Sea fleet has been humiliated. He is forced to rely on states such as Iran for drones, North Korea for frontline troops and China for technology and components. He is using 40% of his total Government spending on the war, with interest rates now running at 18% and inflation at 9%.” He pointed to NATO’s growth to 32 members and its agreement to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 as evidence of Russia’s strategic setbacks.

Responding for the Opposition, James Cartlidge condemned Russian strikes on civilians and noted that one recent attack damaged the British Council in Kyiv. “We join the Government in utterly condemning the attack on the British Council and pay tribute to all its staff … We pass on our best wishes to the member of staff who was injured in the attack,” he said. Cartlidge also pressed the Government to clarify support provided to the Council and asked whether new UK sanctions would proceed independently of US action.

He underlined the Opposition’s stance that “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.”

On future arrangements, Cartlidge questioned the shape of proposed security guarantees, asking whether the coalition of the willing would cover land forces as well as air and sea. He also sought clarity on how the Government’s review of readiness levels would be funded.

Healey welcomed Cartlidge’s support, acknowledging groundwork laid by the previous government on the recent Norwegian frigate deal but insisting “we had to reboot the campaign, which we did, and I am grateful that we have secured it, as it has huge military, economic and strategic importance.”

He confirmed further sanctions would be announced soon by the Foreign Secretary and said discussions on security guarantees were progressing but could not yet be disclosed in detail. “Much of the shape of any deployment of a coalition of the willing will depend on the terms of any peace agreement. At this stage, I certainly do not want to offer any more public details … because it would only reinforce Putin’s hand,” he said.