- Written by Jennifer McKiernan
- BBC political reporter
A Labor government will have an “ironclad determination” to support Ukraine against Putin, two shadow ministers have said.
The pledge was made during a visit to the capital Kiev by shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and shadow defense minister John Healy.
The two visited to discuss “a new British plan” to secure victory over Russia’s “imperial aggression”.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said Labor could not match the Conservatives’ defense spending.
In a joint statement, Mr. Lamy and Mr. Healy said they visited together to demonstrate a united front against Mr. Putin’s attempts to divide the West.
“For Moscow to deepen its cooperation with Beijing, Tehran and Pyongyang, it will need to deepen its cooperation with Britain’s allies to demonstrate that our commitment to Ukraine will outlast Vladmir Putin’s imperial aggression.” they stated.
“The next Labor government’s approach to Ukraine will be ironclad and Europe’s security will be our top foreign and defense priority.
“Labour’s action plan sets out a wide-ranging approach to supporting Ukraine, confronting Russian aggression and pursuing Putin’s war crimes. We will support Ukraine until it wins.”
The purpose of the visit was to send a message that even if Labor wins the next general election, “military, diplomatic, financial and political support for Ukraine will remain unchanged.”
Labor MPs met with Presidential Secretary Andriy Yermak and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss the Labor government’s priorities as Russia’s attacks on the Kharkiv region intensify.
The plan for Ukraine has five priorities: speeding up military assistance, deepening diplomatic efforts, targeting Russian aggression, expanding industrial production, and supporting recovery and reconstruction.
Mr Lamy and Mr Healy pledged that a Labor government would help create a “clear path for Ukraine to join NATO” and called for a renewed focus on cooperation between NATO countries ahead of July’s NATO 75 summit. Ta.
They also laid out a wide-ranging plan to support Ukraine in the long term, including actions to isolate Russia.
In a pre-election pitch to voters earlier on Monday, Mr Sunak said Britain was “at a crossroads” ahead of its “most dangerous years”.
Labor has said it will achieve the same goal if economic conditions permit.
