'So what is this major international dispute all about?'

MP for Ellesmere Port

MANY of my concerned constituents will be wondering how we got to a situation where there is a very real threat of war on the borders of modern day Europe.

Tensions in Ukraine – a country which once formed part of the former Soviet Union – are now at fever point with more than 100,000 Russian troops stretched out along its borders.

UK citizens have been advised to leave the country as soon as possible, as have United States citizens and others from an increasingly large number of countries.

So what is this major international dispute all about?

Well Vladimir Putin, President of Russia – a superpower which invaded and subsequently annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine In February and March 2014 – is far from happy about Ukraine’s stated intention to work towards joining NATO.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is an inter-governmental military alliance between 27 European countries, two North American countries and one Eurasian country. The organisation implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on April 4, 1949. It exists to provide collective security against threats posed by what is now known as the Russian Federation.

We are now embroiled in an international crisis where we in the official Opposition in Parliament are in full support of both the UK Government and leaders of NATO in their efforts to resolve this needless dispute.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Foreign Secretary have all visited the region recently and Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has visited the NATO headquarters in Brussels be briefed on the situation in Ukraine and our Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey and Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy have visited Ukraine for an on the ground update on the situation there and to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

As John Healey said later, their visit “underlined how highly Ukraine values UK military training and support”. “Ukraine is a different country than when the conflict began in 2014 – its military, its identity, and its resolve to resist Russia have all become much stronger.”

When the Soviet Union collapsed, Britain, Russia and the United States made a solemn agreement with Ukraine: in exchange for giving up nuclear powers and weapons, Ukraine’s security was to be guaranteed and its independence respected. Ukraine has kept its end of the deal; President Putin has not.

I condemn Russia’s repeated and unjustifiable acts of aggression and I am resolute in my support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

I support the steps the Government has taken so far to bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and I support international efforts to deter Russia from further aggression. Putin will seize on any sign of weakness or division within the West so we must be prepared to take swift action that will impact Russia’s economy I believe Companies House must be reformed to crack down on shell companies, we must have a register of overseas entities to lift the veil on who owns property and assets in the UK and we need tougher regulation of political donations. Finally, recommendations of the cross-party Russia Report should be implemented to bolster national security.