:...We are facing a very
dangerous flashpoint moment. As with any situation that has the
potential to lead to war, there is a real need to de-escalate the
situation through engagement in dialogue. Forceful and skilful
diplomacy is our only chance of calming Russia’s bellicose
rhetoric and switching the mood from one of broken trust between
the West and Russia to one of respect for boundaries. We must all
work towards a new age of improved communication and
co-operation, greater openness and responsibility. In considering
the available deterrents, such as blocking the freedom of
movement of Russia’s funds through western banking channels and
other economic spheres, we should involve as much as possible our
European neighbours, notably Germany with regard to Nord Stream
2 as well as the United States...
:...The UK
Government need to make it unequivocally and abundantly clear
that we support such a move. I regret that there are,
understandably, some continuing doubts about that. I fear that we
have soft-pedalled on sanctions so far, perhaps because of the
level of Russian assets and investments in the United Kingdom,
and—I regret having to say this, but it needs to be said—because
of Russian donations to the Conservative Party. That kind of
thing compromises you and puts you in a difficult position. The
Germans may also be somewhat hobbled in their actions because of
their dependence on the gas pipeline Nord
Stream 2 as the noble Lord, Lord Astor, said. So
it is up to us—the US, the UK, other EU countries and the EU
Commission—to take the lead...
:...President Putin’s obsession
with NATO spreading eastwards reflects a total failure of Russian
diplomacy. In the past, interest in Ukraine in joining NATO was
minimal. His aggression has caused a surge in support for NATO
membership. He has, bizarrely, written comprehensively about
Ukraine and Russia being joined at the hip, but that hip is now
irredeemably broken, so this is the time to be robust, as this
agreement makes clear. However, in Kiev there is a sense among
many that the EU has been insufficiently supportive this
far. Nord Stream
2 has had very negative consequences for Ukraine.
The position of the United States, a major military supplier, has
now hardened in the light of a possible invasion by Russia. As
has been mentioned several times, we look forward greatly to the
discussions that will take place, which I hope will break this
logjam and move away from the aggression hovering over Ukraine at
this time...
of Darlington:...We cannot
consider these issues without mentioning the Nord Stream
2 pipeline. We should guard against energy
dependency in Europe that could disrupt the unity that we need
when we consider Ukraine. Can the Minister update us on any
discussions that he is having on that topic with our European
neighbours?
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