Last week I set out what the UK Government is doing to support the people of Ukraine and today I can give an update.
The scheme to enable Ukrainians with extended family in the UK to be granted visas has been widened and those with Ukrainian passports can apply online. Extra staff have been sent to visa centres around the Ukrainian border to speed up the process for those without passports. Both the Conservative and Labour parties are in agreement on the need to maintain visas because of security risks, but all agree on the need to get people visas quickly. Another scheme to help those with no family connections to come to the UK is now also being finalised. Michael Gove, Minister for Levelling Up, is in charge. I spoke with him personally last week and he is utterly committed to enabling charities and individuals to sponsor Ukrainian refugees to escape to the UK. Details will be published imminently.
Meanwhile, the UK Government has been rushing through legislation to freeze the billions of pounds worth of assets of hundreds of oligarchs who are close to Putin’s regime. At all times we have been listening to what the Ukrainian Government wants. The Ambassador told Parliament last week that most refugees would prefer to remain in neighbouring countries. These are not economic migrants but are mainly women and children who have left behind male relatives to fight. They understandably want to be close to their families and to return home as soon as possible. We are therefore providing over £200m to support Ukrainian refugees who have had to leave their homes. Most important of all is the assistance that has been given to the Ukrainian army. The President of Ukraine was very clear when he said, “I need ammunition not a ride.” The UK started supplying anti-tank weapons to Ukraine a few months ago and lethal weaponry continues to be supplied, although details are not being given. Other European and NATO countries have now followed Britain’s lead and have promised to supply weapons to the Ukrainians. Many will also increase defence spending.
The vast majority of people want to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainians. We will pay a price for this solidarity in the form of higher costs for fuel which we are already seeing, and for food - Ukraine being a major wheat producer. The various economic sanctions will have an impact on our own economy. However, the economic price we pay is nothing to the price being paid by Ukrainians who are facing destruction and death on an unimaginable scale.
*Published in the Monmouthshire Beacon on 16 March 2022 and the Abergavenny Chronicle on 17 March 2022*