Ukraine Update

Desmond Swayne Excerpts
Wednesday 9th March 2022

(2 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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I think it depends on how those aircraft are used. If they are used as close air support to Kyiv, then it is obviously defensive. If a country is seeking to enter another sovereign territory, like the Russian air force is, then it is not. That is important to recognise, but, I am afraid, as I have said, it is a deeply bilateral decision for those countries. As a friend and ally to Poland, we would stand by its decision.

Desmond Swayne Portrait Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)
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He was warning for months precisely what was coming. Why did we not use the time that he gave us to forward deploy resources to deal with the inevitable flow of applications from refugees?

Ben Wallace Portrait Mr Wallace
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I do not know quite how to answer that question; the important thing is that we will fix it in the here and now.