Recommendations & Conclusions
22 items
1
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
The UK, working with NATO allies and the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE), should encourage Ukraine, Russia and the separatists in the Donbas region to enforce the ceasefire and additional measures agreed in July 2020 by the Minsk Trilateral Contact Group.
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The UK, working with NATO allies and the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE), should encourage Ukraine, Russia and the separatists in the Donbas region to enforce the ceasefire and additional measures agreed in July 2020 by the Minsk Trilateral Contact Group.
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the recommendation and states it is already pressing for all parties to uphold the July 2020 ceasefire. It confirms it will continue to work with allies to call on Russia to uphold OSCE principles and urges Russia to engage constructively in the …
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Ministry of Defence
2
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
The UK, working with NATO allies and other UN Member states, should insist Russia lifts restrictions on the movement of foreign vessels in the Black Sea, particularly in the Kerch Strait, which is in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Russia’s agreement with …
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The UK, working with NATO allies and other UN Member states, should insist Russia lifts restrictions on the movement of foreign vessels in the Black Sea, particularly in the Kerch Strait, which is in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Russia’s agreement with Ukraine on maritime cooperation in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. If Russia does not comply with UNCLOS rules, the UK should support Ukraine’s efforts to seek resolution through the dispute mechanism under Part XV of the UNCLOS, either through the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea or to the International Court of Justice or an arbitral tribunal.
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Government response AI summary
The government noted the recommendation, outlining its consistent opposition to Russian aggression, its commitment to defending the Rules-Based International System, and its existing efforts to assert freedom of navigation.
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Ministry of Defence
3
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
The 1 May deadline, by when Russia said it would pull back additional troops exercising on the border with Ukraine, has passed; the UK, working with NATO allies and other OSCE Member states, should insist Russia withdraws all its additional troops and equipment from the border with Ukraine and from …
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The 1 May deadline, by when Russia said it would pull back additional troops exercising on the border with Ukraine, has passed; the UK, working with NATO allies and other OSCE Member states, should insist Russia withdraws all its additional troops and equipment from the border with Ukraine and from the Crimea. There are legitimate concerns about the underlying nature of Russia’s actions. (Paragraph 16) Russia’s motivation
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Government response AI summary
The government notes the committee's recommendation, expressing continued concern that Russia has not fully withdrawn its troops and equipment, and reiterating that its behavior is unacceptable.
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Ministry of Defence
4
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
The large scale of the Russian military build-up is unusual for a normal exercise, but our evidence suggests that based on where troops are positioned in Crimea, it is unlikely to be a preparation for a full-scale Russian invasion of Eastern Ukraine.
Government response AI summary
The Government notes the Committee's view on the Russian military build-up, acknowledging it was unusual and escalatory, and commits to carefully monitoring the situation and holding Russia accountable.
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Ministry of Defence
5
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
Russia has a right to deploy troops on its own territory but also has a duty to regional security and stability to be transparent about military exercises and military activity close to her borders, as set out in Section 1 of the OSCE’s Helsinki Final Act on exchange of military …
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Russia has a right to deploy troops on its own territory but also has a duty to regional security and stability to be transparent about military exercises and military activity close to her borders, as set out in Section 1 of the OSCE’s Helsinki Final Act on exchange of military information on exercises.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's statement regarding Russia's obligations for transparency in military activities and expresses disappointment that Russia is not upholding these commitments. The government reaffirms its call for Russia to adhere to OSCE principles.
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Ministry of Defence
6
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
Russia prefers to keep the West in the dark about its military activities and the strategic goals, which underpin them. However, it is unlikely that Russia would want to provoke further Western economic sanctions or military assistance to Ukraine.
Government response AI summary
The government notes the committee's view and states that it continues to work with international partners to maintain sanctions and military assistance to Ukraine as long as Russia's illegitimate control of Crimea continues.
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Ministry of Defence
7
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
Russia has several probable motives for escalating tensions on the border with Ukraine, driven by regional insecurities and President Putin’s willingness to engage in power politics. Russia is using its military for coercive diplomacy, to pressure the Ukrainian Government to make concessions in the political settlements for the Donbas and …
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Russia has several probable motives for escalating tensions on the border with Ukraine, driven by regional insecurities and President Putin’s willingness to engage in power politics. Russia is using its military for coercive diplomacy, to pressure the Ukrainian Government to make concessions in the political settlements for the Donbas and to test Western allies’ resolve to come to Ukraine’s aid. (Paragraph 48) 26 Russia and Ukraine border tensions The international response
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Government response AI summary
The government notes the Committee’s view on Russia's motives and reaffirms the UK's steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as outlined in the Integrated review and Defence Command paper.
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Ministry of Defence
8
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
Russia must honour its commitments under the Vienna Document as an OSCE participating State and fully co-operate in OSCE meetings to support confidence and security-building measures and de-escalate conflict. The UK should, with its Allies, use the OSCE mechanisms in the Helsinki Final Act to hold Russia to account, and …
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Russia must honour its commitments under the Vienna Document as an OSCE participating State and fully co-operate in OSCE meetings to support confidence and security-building measures and de-escalate conflict. The UK should, with its Allies, use the OSCE mechanisms in the Helsinki Final Act to hold Russia to account, and if necessary, bring the dispute before the OSCE’s Court of Conciliation and Arbitration.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees that Russia must honour its commitments under the Vienna Document and continues to call on Russia to use OSCE processes. However, it does not commit to the specific UK actions recommended, such as using OSCE mechanisms to hold Russia to account or …
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Ministry of Defence
9
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
The UK, with the US, should insist Russia stand by the international agreements it has signed up to and its commitment, made in 1994, to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and states it will continue to work closely with the US to insist Russia uphold its international agreements, reaffirming the UK's commitment to Ukraine's security assurances.
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Ministry of Defence
10
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
In contrast to Georgia’s response in 2008 to send in troops to counter Russian aggression, Ukraine has demonstrated restraint and sought to resolve the escalating situation through political and diplomatic channels.
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the Committee's observation, commending Ukraine's restraint and diplomatic efforts, and noting its full support for Ukraine's actions to de-escalate the situation.
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Ministry of Defence
11
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
The UK’s presidency of the G7 is an opportunity for the UK to demonstrate global leadership in security, diplomacy and conflict resolution, consistent with its expressed strategic intentions set out in the Integrated Review.
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the Committee's view and states that it will continue to use its G7 presidency to demonstrate global leadership in security, diplomacy, and conflict resolution, citing the discussion on Ukraine at the G7 Summit.
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Ministry of Defence
12
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
UK Ministers should continue to support and encourage Ukraine to seek peaceful resolution to the conflict with Russia, through political settlement and implementation of the Minsk agreements.
Government response AI summary
The government welcomed the recommendation, affirming it will continue to fully support the Minsk agreements and the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, and supports the work of relevant contact groups.
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Ministry of Defence
13
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
The UK Government should continue to work closely with Ukraine, NATO and other allies to monitor the situation on the ground, share intelligence and plan a co-ordinated approach for joint action to promote collective security in the region.
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and states it already leads efforts with allies to ensure situational understanding, share intelligence, and coordinate responses through ongoing activities and NATO forums.
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Ministry of Defence
14
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
The UK and NATO must push back on Russia’s narrative, that Ukrainian membership of NATO, and NATO enlargement in general, would present a threat to Russia’s security, pointing out, for example, that Russia, not Ukraine or NATO, has taken or supported activities that destabilise the region. (Paragraph 71) UK Military …
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The UK and NATO must push back on Russia’s narrative, that Ukrainian membership of NATO, and NATO enlargement in general, would present a threat to Russia’s security, pointing out, for example, that Russia, not Ukraine or NATO, has taken or supported activities that destabilise the region. (Paragraph 71) UK Military Support to Ukraine
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation, reiterating that Russia is the destabilising party and NATO is a defensive alliance. It states NATO leaders reaffirmed no threat to Russia and that the UK will continue to support the NATO-Ukraine partnership.
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Ministry of Defence
15
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
We welcome the new Memorandum of Intention for naval projects with Ukraine and endorse the UK Government putting in place a much longer-term package of support, beyond the conclusion of Operation Orbital in 2023, to assist Ukraine in building up the capability and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces, particularly …
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We welcome the new Memorandum of Intention for naval projects with Ukraine and endorse the UK Government putting in place a much longer-term package of support, beyond the conclusion of Operation Orbital in 2023, to assist Ukraine in building up the capability and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces, particularly the navy. We would like to receive annual updates on the progress of the naval capabilities enhancement programme.
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Government response AI summary
The Government welcomes the request, confirms contractual work has begun on naval projects with Ukraine, and commits to providing annual updates on the progress of the naval capabilities programme.
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Ministry of Defence
16
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Accepted
The UK and NATO should continue to maximise efforts to help Ukraine reform to meet NATO standards and to become more interoperable with NATO and its equipment, for example through regular joint training exercises.
Government response AI summary
The Government agrees and details ongoing efforts, including participation in joint exercises, providing a Special Defence Advisor, and supporting the Ukraine Defence Reform Advisory Board, to help Ukraine meet NATO standards and increase interoperability.
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Ministry of Defence
17
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
We believe the UK Government’s response to the Ukraine crisis, demonstrates a commitment to the overarching themes for Global Britain set out above in the Integrated Review and the Defence Command paper. This can be evidenced in Russia and Ukraine border tensions 27 UK military aid, intelligence sharing, vocal political …
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We believe the UK Government’s response to the Ukraine crisis, demonstrates a commitment to the overarching themes for Global Britain set out above in the Integrated Review and the Defence Command paper. This can be evidenced in Russia and Ukraine border tensions 27 UK military aid, intelligence sharing, vocal political and diplomatic support for Ukraine, and the carrier strike deployment, as part of a co-ordinated approach alongside NATO allies.
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the committee's view that its response to the Ukraine crisis demonstrates commitment to Global Britain themes, detailing its existing commitments and ongoing diplomatic support for Ukraine.
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Ministry of Defence
18
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
However, Britain’s global ambitions now include a tilt to the Indo-Pacific, with the Government promising to deepen engagement by our armed forces and establish a greater and more persistent presence there as well.
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's conclusion, affirming that its enhanced focus on the Indo-Pacific is a positive effort aligned with shifting global dynamics, aiming to leverage opportunities and manage risks.
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Ministry of Defence
19
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
The Integrated Review identifies Russia as “the most acute direct threat to the UK”. The UK Government should clarify how its global ambitions, in particular its proposed tilt to the Indo-Pacific, will be balanced with deterring the threat from Russia to UK security in the Euro-Atlantic region. (Paragraph 97) Lessons …
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The Integrated Review identifies Russia as “the most acute direct threat to the UK”. The UK Government should clarify how its global ambitions, in particular its proposed tilt to the Indo-Pacific, will be balanced with deterring the threat from Russia to UK security in the Euro-Atlantic region. (Paragraph 97) Lessons learnt
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Government response AI summary
The government states it is not deprioritising any regions and remains committed to both Euro-Atlantic security and Indo-Pacific engagement. It asserts that defence policy and planning mechanisms are designed to preclude overstretch, but does not offer specific clarification on how the balance will be achieved.
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Ministry of Defence
20
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
We commend the UK Government for their role in intelligence sharing and monitoring the situation in the Donbas and Crimea.
Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the Committee's commendation for its role in intelligence sharing and monitoring, stating it will continue these efforts with allies to maintain understanding and avoid miscalculation.
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Ministry of Defence
21
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Acknowledged
The International community has reacted quickly and united behind a clear message to Russia that the world is watching and there will be consequences for illegal military action. Lessons have been learnt from the Georgia crisis in 2008 and the Ukraine crisis in 2014, primarily that the international response must …
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The International community has reacted quickly and united behind a clear message to Russia that the world is watching and there will be consequences for illegal military action. Lessons have been learnt from the Georgia crisis in 2008 and the Ukraine crisis in 2014, primarily that the international response must be decisive and unanimous in the face of Russian aggression.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's conclusion, noting Russia's pattern of aggression, and states it will continue to work with allies to learn from collective experiences and maintain a robust international response.
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Ministry of Defence
22
Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
Not Addressed
The UK and NATO must decide what their red lines are and the appropriate action which could be taken, if Russia crosses a red line. (Paragraph 112) 28 Russia and Ukraine border tensions
Government response AI summary
The government notes the recommendation but does not commit to deciding specific 'red lines'. It instead highlights existing NATO efforts to deter threats and protect people as clear and proportionate responses.
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Ministry of Defence