Like thousands of others, I welcomed a Ukrainian refugee into my home in recent months. For me, a firm and unwavering commitment is not only political, it is also personal. In recent months, the people of this country have stepped up to support Ukraine too – my team in Portsmouth worked with the Ukrainian Embassy and the Center for Civil Society to launch a kit campaign aimed at people and local businesses. I have seen firsthand the generosity of our nation’s spirit. Leadership in support of Ukraine was one of Boris Johnson’s greatest legacies. I will continue this leadership and there will be no question of diminishing our effort to help our allies. When a crisis hits, Britain stands up. Supporting Ukraine is the right thing to do. President Zelensky and his people are locked in a struggle to protect their state, a country with the same democratic values as ours. I met brave colleagues from the Ukrainian parliament, who were key to deepening our ties with Ukraine and shaping our response to Russia’s invasion. I had the honor to meet Lesia Vasylenko, Alona Shkrum and Mariia Mezentseva and thanked them for their support in strengthening the partnership between our countries. I was the UK’s first female Defense Secretary and I am a reservist in the Royal Navy. I have seen first hand how the world has become more dangerous in the last decade. The invasion of Ukraine taught us that war between states is not a thing of the past. But this century will also see a battle for values, between open societies like Britain and authoritarian regimes like Russia. To that end, we will redouble our cooperation with the US and the EU, as well as other key partners, to coordinate military support, while encouraging our European allies to do more. We will continue to lead the G7 in imposing sanctions on Putin and his regime and increase our enforcement efforts. We will consider options for scaling up training for Ukrainian armed forces personnel in the UK and creating a Royal Navy-led task force to lead communications and demining in the vital strategic waters of the Black Sea. In addition, we will strengthen information operations in Ukraine to counter Russian disinformation and improve Ukraine’s internal resilience. We need to rebuild Ukraine’s economy after deterring Russian aggression, and I will create a program to help tech entrepreneurs and investors work with Ukrainian companies to restore growth and undertake reconstruction from the rubble of Russia’s bombs. We did not seek confrontation with Russia. But Putin’s act of aggression against his neighbor means we cannot stand by and do nothing. The struggle of the Ukrainian people against their invaders is also our struggle. It is part of a wider clash of values and ideals, and we must do all we can to turn the tide. President Zelensky, we are with you now, in defense of Ukraine and in defense of your freedom. We will not let you down.
