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Lord Coaker (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 15 September 2026

Debate

Ukraine and Russia

Contribution

The bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people cannot be overstated. They are simply immense. This is a point that I have made before, but I am going to make it again: Russia did not attack Ukraine when it did in the belief that years later it would still be fighting. It believed, as I am sure a former ambassador would say, that three or so days after the attack it was going to be in Kyiv and would install a pro-Russian Government there. It did not attack in the belief that it would be where it is now, with 1.5 million casualties. God knows how much money it has cost. It is to the immense credit of the Ukrainian people that that has remained possible, not only in the face of the initial invasion but in the way in which they have continued to stand firm, as they have done. I agree with my noble friend that we need not only to support them in their war effort but to continue to discuss and work with them on what will happen in the future. However, the immediate priority is to secure the sovereignty of their country.

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