READERS will share my concerns about the barbaric actions of the Russian President and my thoughts are with those who are on the front line standing up to this illegal invasion as well as every person who is having to leave their homes to flee the violence.
Our Government has been swift to act, supplying defensive weapons and training to the Ukrainian army in its attempts to repel the invasion and it has played a leading role co-ordinating the global response to this crisis including a comprehensive sanctions regime.
The Government has so far allocated £395 million to support Ukraine including £220 million of humanitarian aid and £100 million of Overseas Development Assistance. Let us not forget that over the last 12 years, our Government has spent nearly £1 billion supporting refugees fleeing from Syria, helped to support 20,000 Afghan nationals, 97,000 British Nationals fleeing from Hong Kong, and 20,000 Syrian nationals moving to this country under resettlement schemes.
These are terrible events and I share the views of you all that our country must do what it can to help. The Government has launched a range of schemes to allow us to welcome more refugees and I wish to thank every person who has come forward with offers of help. Ways to help are published on the Government website including a dedicated scheme to allow local people to take in Ukrainians, and I’m also encouraging people to donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal if you wish.
I am sure you all agree that the best outcome is for Putin to end this illegal invasion, withdraw from Ukraine and allow its citizens to return. But while that does not appear an immediate prospect, I am confident that our Government will do what it can to support those who have become victims of this war, and importantly, help those citizens who want to help, to do so.
