The United Kingdom has been playing a leading role in supporting Ukraine through this conflict.
I have written several updates on our response to the conflict so far and I have been feeding in the concerns of residents to ensure we make it as easy as possible for those fleeing the conflict to get to the UK, whilst also ensuring the security of everybody involved.
We are also ensuring that legislation can be put in place to toughen up the assets we are able to seize here in the UK, without leaving ourselves open to legal challenges.
International Sanctions:
• The UK Government has worked with international partners to maximise the impact of sanctions on Putin. We have rallied fellow UN Members, helped create an International Ukraine Support Group & persuaded other nations to take stronger action including on swift.
• We’ve sanctioned over 800 Russian individuals & entities, including 18 oligarchs with a combined wealth in excess of $45 billion. We’re legislating to introduce a register of overseas property ownership, & to ensure more oligarchs can be handed unexplained wealth orders.
• We are sanctioning Vladimir Putin himself & his inner circle, hitting the Kremlin regime at its heart. They will be hit with an asset freeze & blocked from future business in the UK. We have also frozen £258 billion in Russian bank assets - more than any other country.
• We announced the UK phase out of Russian oil by the end of the year putting huge pressure on a resource that provides 17% of Russian tax revenue. And we’ve made it a criminal offence for Russian aircraft to fly/land in the UK & have banned Russian vessels from UK ports.
Humanitarian Aid:
• The UK is now the largest bilateral donor to Ukraine, with £400 million worth of support this year. We are also donating 500 mobile generators to provide energy for essential facilities across the Ukraine.
• This is all on top of £74 million that we are providing Ukraine through the World Bank, & we are matching the first £20 million donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, making the British people’s support for Ukraine go further.
Military Support:
• Since the beginning we have led the way on military support for Ukraine as the first country to supply them with lethal military aid, helping them prepare for Russia’s invasion.
• We have delivered over 3,500 anti-tank weapons through our lethal aid support and we will be sending a consignment of javelin anti-talk missiles. Troops from the Royal Welsh Battlegroup are stationed in Estonia to strengthen the NATO eastern front.
• We trained over 22,000 Ukrainian troops through Operation Orbital, providing them with the skills they need to defend their country, & have supplied Ukraine with defensive equipment to build on the £2.2 million of non-lethal equipment provided since 2015.
Homes for Ukrainians:
• We are also supporting Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. We’ve launched our uncapped Homes for Ukraine scheme, allowing sponsors in the UK to support Ukrainians fleeing this deadly conflict. We have over 100,000 sponsor interests already signed up.
• 4,000 visas have been granted through the Extended Family Route & for those with Ukrainian passports, we have removed the need to conduct biometric checks before arriving in the UK. Our new Refugee Minister will be coordinating & streamlining support in the days ahead.
• We are also making plans for the arrival of 100,000 Ukrainian children to have places in schools in England, and we are bringing 21 Ukrainian children with cancer to the UK to receive NHS care, bringing the most vulnerable to safety.
My other updates so far are included below.
https://www.justintomlinson.com/news/article/update-support-ukraine https://www.justintomlinson.com/news/article/swindon-advertiser-column-we-will-do-everything-we-can-support-ukraine https://www.justintomlinson.com/news/article/justin-meets-members-ukrainian-community https://www.justintomlinson.com/news/article/swindon-advertiser-column-zelenskys-display-poise-dignity-and-courage https://www.justintomlinson.com/news/article/homes-ukraine-scheme-launches
