Russia told to stop its ‘malign activity’

Foreign secretary Liz Truss said Russia has “no justification” for its aggression towards Ukraine. In a statement to the House of Commons, Ms Truss said the UK’S commitment to Ukraine is “unwavering”, adding: “We will not accept the campaign Russia is waging to subvert its democratic neighbours.”

After outlining Russian actions elsewhere in the world, Ms Truss said: “I urge Russia to end its malign activity and to stick to what has been agreed.”

She added: “This next week will be absolutely critical for peace and security in Europe.

“It is vital that Nato is united in pushing back against Russia’s threatening behaviour and together we must hold Russia to its long-standing obligations.

“The only way forward is for Russia to de-escalate and pursue a path of diplomacy.

“We will continue to stand together with our allies, steadfast in support of Ukraine and its future as a free and sovereign democracy.”

The UK is helping Ukraine to strengthen its defences with joint exercises, maritime support and by training more than 20,000 members of its army.

Labour’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told MPS: “It is right that this whole house sends a clear and unified message today, that we fully support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and that Russian actions to further undermine this will be met with severe consequences.

“We must be crystal clear in our commitment to Nato and to the security of our allies. That commitment must be unshakable.”

Ms Truss said it is a “sovereign decision for Nato and relevant applicant states as to whether they join Nato” and “not decision for Russia”.

Conservative former defence minister Tobias Ellwood said he does not believe the West has a coherent plan to deal with Russia’s aggression.

He asked: “With the West looking ever-timid, everdivided and ever riskaverse, with the United States looking everdistracted because of domestic issues and Nato bruised after its retreat from Afghanistan, has there ever been a better time for Russia to invade Ukraine than in the forthcoming new year of the Orthodox calendar?”

When asked about using diplomacy to allow Moscow a way to de-escalate, the foreign secretary said: “The best way to challenge Russia is from a position of strength.”

Conservative MP Stuart Anderson, who served in Bosnia and Kosovo, welcomed the “strong approach” but said:

a“However unlikely it may seem, can we ensure that the best statecraft and diplomacy is used to allow Russia, if it should choose, to de-escalate and a route out of where this could be heading?”

Ms Truss said she is determined not to allow peace and security in the region to “slide away from us”, adding: “We’re working on closer economic and security ties with the Balkan states, so they have an alternative to working with Russia.

“I believe the best way to challenge Russia is from a position of strength.

“We have to be clear that there would be severe consequences if there was to be an incursion into Ukraine and we have to reduce European strategic dependency on Russia.

“That is the way that we are going to succeed because there can’t be any sense in which Russian aggression is rewarded.”

CRITICISED: President Vladimir Putin pictured in discussions with one of his generals, Valery Gerasimov.