David Lammy calls for ‘laser-like focus’ on maintaining support for Ukrainian people, six months after Putin launched illegal invasion

David Lammy MP, Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary, commenting ahead of the Independence Day of Ukraine (on Wednesday, 24 August), which also marks the six-month anniversary of Putin's illegal invasion, said:

"Six months since Vladimir Putin first launched his barbaric invasion of Ukraine, Labour stands in full solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their righteous struggle for democracy over dictatorship.

"The UK Government must now have a laser-like focus on maintaining public support for the Ukrainian people both in Britain and across the international community.

"At home, we need to freeze energy bills, insulate homes, and invest in green energy to limit the domestic impact of the conflict which is exacerbating the cost-of-living emergency created by 12 years of failed Conservative energy policy.

"Internationally, Britain needs to secure new diplomatic channels to work with our European partners to wean ourselves off Russia’s gas and to exert maximum pressure on Putin."