Lords debates the current situation in Ukraine

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative), Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, put forward the debate.

This was a general debate. During debates, members put their experience to good use to discuss current issues and draw the government's attention to concerns. 

Members speaking

Members contributing to the debate included:

• Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour), Lords shadow spokesperson for defence
• Lord Houghton of Richmond (Crossbench), former chief of defence staff at the Ministry of Defence
• Baroness Meyer (Conservative), Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Ukraine
• Lord Risby (Conservative), former chair of the British-Ukrainian Society
• Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Labour), former Secretary General of NATO
• Lord Stirrup (Crossbench), former Air Chief Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

Lord Camoys (Conservative), former Foreign Office diplomat, gave his maiden speech in the House of Lords during this debate.

Opening the debate, Lord Ahmad said:

'Several million people have been displaced inside Ukraine and almost 6 million people are registered as refugees across Europe. This is the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War…Russia must be held to account for its actions. International law must be upheld and infractions punished.'

Lord Robertson added:

'The basic rule of politics is that it is not what you say; it is what people hear. That one man in the Kremlin needs to hear—has to hear—that we are with Ukraine until it prevails.'

The Earl of Minto (Conservative), Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, responded on behalf of the government.

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Find out more about the issues the debate covers in the House of Lords Library briefing.

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