As President Zelenskyy further demonstrates his commitment to
peace by travelling to Istanbul for direct talks with Russia,
NATO Allies are gathering in Turkey today to underline the
Alliance's support for Ukraine and commitment to a secure and
stable Euro-Atlantic, with a stronger, fairer and more lethal
NATO at its core.
At the NATO informal Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Antalya, the
Foreign Secretary will lead calls for the strongest Alliance in
history to stand united in the face of a generational threat from
our adversaries, and stand behind Ukraine to secure a just and
lasting peace. Security is the foundation of our Plan for
Change and central to this government's plans to deliver growth
and prosperity to British working people.
Ahead of the Hague Summit in June, Allies are meeting in Antalya
with a clear message that NATO must step up together to meet this
critical moment for our collective security. The Foreign
Secretary will say that Europe must shoulder more responsibility
for its own security, as security threats from Russia and its
enablers continue to mount.
Foreign Secretary, ,
said:
“Today, President Zelenskyy is in Turkey in a further
demonstration of his commitment to peace, ready to enter talks
direct with Russia and continuing to push for a full ceasefire as
a first crucial step.
“As myself and my fellow NATO Allies also travel to Turkey,
we are united alongside Ukraine in our determination to secure a
just and lasting peace. We are working to deliver
more for our collective security and bring this barbaric war to
an end.
“Euro-Atlantic security is the foundation of our Plan for
Change. Without the security NATO provides, we cannot deliver the
growth and prosperity the British people deserve."
During his remarks in an informal meeting of the North Atlantic
Council, the Foreign Secretary will update on UK steps to protect
Euro-Atlantic security and disrupt Russia's reckless actions to
force Putin's hand. He will say that every step the Alliance
takes to increase pressure on Russia and achieve peace in Ukraine
is another step towards security and prosperity at home and
abroad.
Earlier this week, six spies working for Russia were sentenced in
the UK, as the UK cracks down on Russian espionage attempts on
British soil. The successful convictions came about as a result
of close international cooperation with a number of NATO Allies,
including Bulgaria, France and Germany, demonstrating a unified
front against hostile Russian activity.
The visit follows the UK-hosted Weimar+ meeting on Monday, where
representatives from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and
the EU joined the Foreign Secretary in London to share Europe's
unwavering support for Ukraine's right to peace and
freedom.
It also comes after the Prime Minister's visit to Oslo last week
where the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) announced enhanced
support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces through intensive training
exercises, increasing interoperability across military platforms
and enhancing countering disinformation support as well as
allowing JEF Nations to learn from the battlefield experience of
Ukraine's armed forces.
