Ukraine: Military Support

Jo Platt (Leigh and Atherton) (Lab/Co-op) and Tom Rutland (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Lab) asked the Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, what steps he is taking to increase military support to Ukraine. In his response, the Secretary of State acknowledged that this is the 963rd day of Russia's "brutal, illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine" and stated that Ukraine is one of his top priorities. He highlighted that the UK has stepped up military aid, sped up the delivery of battlefield supplies, and confirmed that it will provide £3 billion a year in military aid to Ukraine this year, next year, and every year until Ukraine prevails. Jo Platt followed up by noting the work of the UK-based humanitarian organisation Medics4Ukraine, which has delivered over £3 million worth of medical aid and training to Ukraine. She asked the Secretary of State if he agrees that medical support is a strategic component and if he would meet with the founders of Medics4Ukraine to discuss how the government can further support their lifesaving work. The Secretary of State agreed, stating that the UK's Defence Medical Services are at the forefront of Ukraine's efforts to develop a modern military healthcare system, and that a member of the defence team would be delighted to meet with Platt and Medics4Ukraine. Tom Rutland welcomed the Prime Minister's recent hosting of President Zelensky and the new NATO Secretary-General in London, and asked what steps the Secretary of State is taking to ensure that the UK meets its NATO obligations and strengthens its leadership in NATO. The Secretary of State responded that this will be the centrepiece of the government's defence plan and the strategic defence review, and that the UK and its allies must do all they can to strengthen Ukraine during the coming weeks. Sir Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con) intervened, agreeing that the democratic world cannot afford to lose this war and that the total defence expenditure of Ukraine's democratic allies far exceeds what Russia can deploy, suggesting that this might should be deployed to gain a decisive victory for Ukraine and secure the international global order. The Secretary of State concurred with Jenkin's assessment.