Russia and Ukraine border tensions

Defence Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 14 Apr 2021 Closed: 6 Dec 2022 Parliament page
The Committee is holding a one-off evidence session to examine the extent of Russian military build-up along the border of Eastern Ukraine over recent months. This session will focus on Russia’s military intentions and what the UK Government and NATO can do to de-escalate tension in the region.
12 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Event
Activity timeline 3 events
23 Sep
2021
Report published
6 Jul
2021
Report published
21 Apr
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
21 Apr 2021
View on parliament.uk
Henry Boyd · International Institute for Strategic Studies Sarah Lain · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Russia and Ukraine border tensions HC 167 6 Jul 2021 22 Response document linked
Recommendations & Conclusions
22 results
1 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The UK, working with NATO allies and the Organization for Security and Co- operation in...
The UK, working with NATO allies and the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE), should encourage Ukraine, Russia and the separatists in the Donbas region to enforce the ceasefire and additional measures agreed in July 2020 by … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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2 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The UK, working with NATO allies and other UN Member states, should insist Russia lifts...
The UK, working with NATO allies and other UN Member states, should insist Russia lifts restrictions on the movement of foreign vessels in the Black Sea, particularly in the Kerch Strait, which is in violation of the UN Convention on … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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3 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The 1 May deadline, by when Russia said it would pull back additional troops exercising...
The 1 May deadline, by when Russia said it would pull back additional troops exercising on the border with Ukraine, has passed; the UK, working with NATO allies and other OSCE Member states, should insist Russia withdraws all its additional … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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4 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The large scale of the Russian military build-up is unusual for a normal exercise, but...
The large scale of the Russian military build-up is unusual for a normal exercise, but our evidence suggests that based on where troops are positioned in Crimea, it is unlikely to be a preparation for a full-scale Russian invasion of Eastern Ukraine.
Ministry of Defence
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5 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
Russia has a right to deploy troops on its own territory but also has a...
Russia has a right to deploy troops on its own territory but also has a duty to regional security and stability to be transparent about military exercises and military activity close to her borders, as set out in Section 1 … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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6 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
Russia prefers to keep the West in the dark about its military activities and the...
Russia prefers to keep the West in the dark about its military activities and the strategic goals, which underpin them. However, it is unlikely that Russia would want to provoke further Western economic sanctions or military assistance to Ukraine.
Ministry of Defence
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7 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
Russia has several probable motives for escalating tensions on the border with Ukraine, driven by...
Russia has several probable motives for escalating tensions on the border with Ukraine, driven by regional insecurities and President Putin’s willingness to engage in power politics. Russia is using its military for coercive diplomacy, to pressure the Ukrainian Government to … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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8 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
Russia must honour its commitments under the Vienna Document as an OSCE participating State and...
Russia must honour its commitments under the Vienna Document as an OSCE participating State and fully co-operate in OSCE meetings to support confidence and security-building measures and de-escalate conflict. The UK should, with its Allies, use the OSCE mechanisms in … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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9 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The UK, with the US, should insist Russia stand by the international agreements it has...
The UK, with the US, should insist Russia stand by the international agreements it has signed up to and its commitment, made in 1994, to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ministry of Defence
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10 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
In contrast to Georgia’s response in 2008 to send in troops to counter Russian aggression,...
In contrast to Georgia’s response in 2008 to send in troops to counter Russian aggression, Ukraine has demonstrated restraint and sought to resolve the escalating situation through political and diplomatic channels.
Ministry of Defence
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11 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The UK’s presidency of the G7 is an opportunity for the UK to demonstrate global...
The UK’s presidency of the G7 is an opportunity for the UK to demonstrate global leadership in security, diplomacy and conflict resolution, consistent with its expressed strategic intentions set out in the Integrated Review.
Ministry of Defence
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12 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
UK Ministers should continue to support and encourage Ukraine to seek peaceful resolution to the...
UK Ministers should continue to support and encourage Ukraine to seek peaceful resolution to the conflict with Russia, through political settlement and implementation of the Minsk agreements.
Ministry of Defence
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13 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The UK Government should continue to work closely with Ukraine, NATO and other allies to...
The UK Government should continue to work closely with Ukraine, NATO and other allies to monitor the situation on the ground, share intelligence and plan a co-ordinated approach for joint action to promote collective security in the region.
Ministry of Defence
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14 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The UK and NATO must push back on Russia’s narrative, that Ukrainian membership of NATO,...
The UK and NATO must push back on Russia’s narrative, that Ukrainian membership of NATO, and NATO enlargement in general, would present a threat to Russia’s security, pointing out, for example, that Russia, not Ukraine or NATO, has taken or … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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15 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
We welcome the new Memorandum of Intention for naval projects with Ukraine and endorse the...
We welcome the new Memorandum of Intention for naval projects with Ukraine and endorse the UK Government putting in place a much longer-term package of support, beyond the conclusion of Operation Orbital in 2023, to assist Ukraine in building up … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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16 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The UK and NATO should continue to maximise efforts to help Ukraine reform to meet...
The UK and NATO should continue to maximise efforts to help Ukraine reform to meet NATO standards and to become more interoperable with NATO and its equipment, for example through regular joint training exercises.
Ministry of Defence
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17 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
We believe the UK Government’s response to the Ukraine crisis, demonstrates a commitment to the...
We believe the UK Government’s response to the Ukraine crisis, demonstrates a commitment to the overarching themes for Global Britain set out above in the Integrated Review and the Defence Command paper. This can be evidenced in Russia and Ukraine … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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18 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
However, Britain’s global ambitions now include a tilt to the Indo-Pacific, with the Government promising...
However, Britain’s global ambitions now include a tilt to the Indo-Pacific, with the Government promising to deepen engagement by our armed forces and establish a greater and more persistent presence there as well.
Ministry of Defence
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19 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The Integrated Review identifies Russia as “the most acute direct threat to the UK”.
The Integrated Review identifies Russia as “the most acute direct threat to the UK”. The UK Government should clarify how its global ambitions, in particular its proposed tilt to the Indo-Pacific, will be balanced with deterring the threat from Russia … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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20 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
We commend the UK Government for their role in intelligence sharing and monitoring the situation...
We commend the UK Government for their role in intelligence sharing and monitoring the situation in the Donbas and Crimea.
Ministry of Defence
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21 Conclusion
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The International community has reacted quickly and united behind a clear message to Russia that...
The International community has reacted quickly and united behind a clear message to Russia that the world is watching and there will be consequences for illegal military action. Lessons have been learnt from the Georgia crisis in 2008 and the … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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22 Recommendation
First Report - Russia and Ukraine …
The UK and NATO must decide what their red lines are and the appropriate action...
The UK and NATO must decide what their red lines are and the appropriate action which could be taken, if Russia crosses a red line. (Paragraph 112) 28 Russia and Ukraine border tensions
Ministry of Defence
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