Recommendations & Conclusions
22 items
1
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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.
Government response. . The Government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation. The UK continues to press the need for all parties to uphold the July 2020 strengthened ceasefire. We will continue to work with our Allies and Partners to call on Russia to uphold …
Ministry of Defence
2
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The Government notes the Committee’s recommendation. The UK has consistently stood with Ukraine in opposing all instances of Russian aggression towards Ukraine, including Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. We will continue to work with our Allies and partners to defend …
Ministry of Defence
3
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The Government notes the Committee’s recommendation. The build-up of Russian military forces near the Ukrainian border and in Crimea indicated a troubling escalation in an ongoing campaign of aggression towards Ukraine. The UK is concerned that Russia has not fully …
Ministry of Defence
4
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government notes the Committee’s view. The build-up of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border and in Crimea was unusual, escalatory and did not reflect normal exercise routine. We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and hold Russia to …
Ministry of Defence
5
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The Government agrees that Russia has clear obligations to notify the OSCE of training exercises and significant movements of troops. These are long established mechanisms to increase transparency and build confidence. We are disappointed that Russia did not, and still …
Ministry of Defence
6
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government notes the Committee’s view. The UK worked closely with the EU, US, Australia and Canada to impose costs on those facilitating Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol through sanctions. We continue to work closely with international partners …
Ministry of Defence
7
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The Government notes the Committee’s view. The UK continues to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognised borders and territorial waters. Our commitment to the stability and security of Ukraine remains steadfast, as outlined in the Integrated …
Ministry of Defence
8
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The Government agrees with the Committee that Russia must honour its commitments under the Vienna Document as an OSCE participating State. The Vienna Document is a key confidence and security building measure to build transparency and reduce risk. It is …
Ministry of Defence
9
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government agree with the Committee’s recommendation. The Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement signed with Ukraine on 8 October 2020 reaffirms the UK’s commitment to the security assurances enshrined in the Budapest Memorandum of 5 December 1994. We …
Ministry of Defence
10
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government agrees with the Committee. We fully supported Ukraine’s use of the Vienna Document to de-escalate the situation and request greater transparency from Russia on its military activity. The restraint shown by Ukraine is to be commended, including efforts …
Ministry of Defence
11
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government agrees with the Committee’s view. G7 Leaders met in Cornwall from the 11-13 June and the situation in Ukraine was discussed and referenced in paragraph 52 of the Summit Communique. The UK will continue to use its position …
Ministry of Defence
12
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation. The UK will continue to fully support the Minsk agreements and the peaceful resolution of the conflict in full respect of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, including its territorial …
Ministry of Defence
13
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. During the Russian military build-up we led efforts with international Allies and Partners to ensure a cohesive situational understanding and a unified response. This included a meeting of the Ukraine QUINT Defence Ministers …
Ministry of Defence
14
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The Government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation. Russia, not NATO, has taken and is continuing to support activities that destabilise the region. NATO is a defensive Alliance, and will continue to strive for peace, security and stability in Euro- Atlantic area. …
Ministry of Defence
15
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The Government welcomes the Committee’s view and request. The UK and Ukraine have a close Defence relationship, and we will continue to strengthen this partnership to help deter shared threats including through capacity and capability building efforts. The Memorandum of …
Ministry of Defence
16
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. The Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper reinforce our continued commitment to Euro-Atlantic security and to helping build Ukraine’s resilience to Russia’s aggressive tactics through capacity building of their Armed Forces, and …
Ministry of Defence
17
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The Government welcomes the Committee’s view. The Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper reinforce our commitment to Euro-Atlantic security (including Black Sea security), and to helping build Ukraine’s resilience to Russia’s aggressive tactics through the UK’s Operation ORBITAL. The UK …
Ministry of Defence
18
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government’s enhanced focus on the Indo-Pacific is a positive effort to keep a pace with shifting global dynamics and ensure the UK is positioned to realise the opportunities and manage the risks.
Ministry of Defence
19
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The UK is not deprioritising any regions and will remain a strong and reliable ally to our international partners. Our traditional allies and interests are no less important. We are fully committed to Euro Atlantic security and as Global Britain …
Ministry of Defence
20
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
We commend the UK Government for their role in intelligence sharing and monitoring the situation in the Donbas and Crimea.
Government response. The Government welcomes the Committee’s view. We will continue to share information with Allies to increase a unified understanding of events and avoid miscalculation and continue to monitor the situation.
Ministry of Defence
21
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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 …
Government response. The Government agrees with the Committee. A pattern of Russian aggression for over a decade undermines Russia’s claim that it is a responsible international partner upholding the Rules Based system. We will continue to work with our Allies and partners …
Ministry of Defence
22
Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine borde…
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. The Government notes the Committee’s recommendation. The response of the UK and our international partners to Russia’s military build-up has been clear and proportionate. Alongside Allies we will deter threats across a wide spectrum and protect our people. Since 2014, …
Ministry of Defence