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.
22 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Event
Activity timeline 4 events
23 Sep
2021
Report published
6 Jul
2021
Report published
21 Apr
2021
Oral evidence
21 Apr
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
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 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
22 results
1 Conclusion
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
Government Response
. The Government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation. The UK continues to press the need for all parties to uphold the July 2020 strengthened ceasefire. We will continue to work with … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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2 Conclusion
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
Government Response
The Government notes the Committee’s recommendation. The UK has consistently stood with Ukraine in opposing all instances of Russian aggression towards Ukraine, including Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. We will … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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3 Conclusion
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
Government Response
The Government notes the Committee’s recommendation. The build-up of Russian military forces near the Ukrainian border and in Crimea indicated a troubling escalation in an ongoing campaign of aggression towards … 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.
Government Response
The Government notes the Committee’s view. The build-up of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border and in Crimea was unusual, escalatory and did not reflect normal exercise routine. We will … Read more
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
Government Response
The Government agrees that Russia has clear obligations to notify the OSCE of training exercises and significant movements of troops. These are long established mechanisms to increase transparency and build … 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.
Government Response
The Government notes the Committee’s view. The UK worked closely with the EU, US, Australia and Canada to impose costs on those facilitating Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol … Read more
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
Government Response
The Government notes the Committee’s view. The UK continues to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognised borders and territorial waters. Our commitment to the stability and … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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8 Conclusion
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
Government Response
The Government agrees with the Committee that Russia must honour its commitments under the Vienna Document as an OSCE participating State. The Vienna Document is a key confidence and security … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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9 Conclusion
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.
Government Response
The Government agree with the Committee’s recommendation. The Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement signed with Ukraine on 8 October 2020 reaffirms the UK’s commitment to the security assurances … Read more
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.
Government Response
The Government agrees with the Committee. We fully supported Ukraine’s use of the Vienna Document to de-escalate the situation and request greater transparency from Russia on its military activity. The … Read more
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.
Government Response
The Government agrees with the Committee’s view. G7 Leaders met in Cornwall from the 11-13 June and the situation in Ukraine was discussed and referenced in paragraph 52 of the … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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12 Conclusion
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.
Government Response
The Government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation. The UK will continue to fully support the Minsk agreements and the peaceful resolution of the conflict in full respect of Ukrainian sovereignty and … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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13 Conclusion
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.
Government Response
The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. During the Russian military build-up we led efforts with international Allies and Partners to ensure a cohesive situational understanding and a unified response. … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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14 Conclusion
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
Government Response
The Government welcomes the Committee’s recommendation. Russia, not NATO, has taken and is continuing to support activities that destabilise the region. NATO is a defensive Alliance, and will continue to … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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15 Conclusion
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
Government Response
The Government welcomes the Committee’s view and request. The UK and Ukraine have a close Defence relationship, and we will continue to strengthen this partnership to help deter shared threats … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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16 Conclusion
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.
Government Response
The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. The Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper reinforce our continued commitment to Euro-Atlantic security and to helping build Ukraine’s resilience to Russia’s … Read more
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
Government Response
The Government welcomes the Committee’s view. The Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper reinforce our commitment to Euro-Atlantic security (including Black Sea security), and to helping build Ukraine’s resilience to … 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.
Government Response
The Government’s enhanced focus on the Indo-Pacific is a positive effort to keep a pace with shifting global dynamics and ensure the UK is positioned to realise the opportunities and manage the risks.
Ministry of Defence
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19 Conclusion
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
Government Response
The UK is not deprioritising any regions and will remain a strong and reliable ally to our international partners. Our traditional allies and interests are no less important. We are … 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.
Government Response
The Government welcomes the Committee’s view. We will continue to share information with Allies to increase a unified understanding of events and avoid miscalculation and continue to monitor the situation. Read more
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
Government Response
The Government agrees with the Committee. A pattern of Russian aggression for over a decade undermines Russia’s claim that it is a responsible international partner upholding the Rules Based system. … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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22 Conclusion
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
Government Response
The Government notes the Committee’s recommendation. The response of the UK and our international partners to Russia’s military build-up has been clear and proportionate. Alongside Allies we will deter threats … Read more
Ministry of Defence
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