天美影院

Mr. Speaker鈥β�

Less than a week since I called on this House to show the courage of our predecessors鈥�

We see clearly before us - the test of our times.聽聽

A crossroads in our history.聽聽聽

So with permission I will update the House on my efforts鈥β�

To secure a strong, just and lasting peace鈥β�

Following Russia鈥檚 vile invasion of Ukraine.聽

Mr. Speaker 鈥� it begins in this House鈥β�

Where on Tuesday, I announced the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

A recognition of the fact that once again, we live in an era鈥�

Where peace in Europe depends upon strength and deterrence.

But also 鈥� a rediscovery of the old post-war argument鈥β�

Long-held on these benches鈥β犅�

That economic security is national security.聽

Because Mr. Speaker, the demands we now have to make of Britain鈥β�

Must come alongside a new foundation of security for working people.聽

The tough choices we made last week鈥β�

They are not done.聽

We must use the process of getting to 3% of our national income spent on defence鈥β�

To fundamentally rebuild British industry.聽

Use our investment in military spending鈥�

To create new jobs and apprenticeships in every part of our country.聽

And that鈥檚 why, last night, I announced a deal that perfectly symbolises this new era.聽

A partnership with Ukraine鈥β�

That allows them to use 拢1.6 billion of UK Export Finance鈥β�

To buy 5,000 air defence missiles, manufactured in Belfast.聽

That means UK jobs鈥β�

UK skills鈥β�

UK finance鈥�

Pulling together for our national interest鈥β�

Putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace鈥β�

And protecting innocent civilians from the terror of Russian drones.聽

Mr. Speaker, my efforts continued on Thursday鈥β�

When I met President Trump in the White House鈥β�

To strengthen our relationship with America.聽

Now, what happened in his subsequent meeting with President Zelenskyy鈥β�

Is something nobody in this House wants to see.聽

But I do want to be crystal clear鈥β�

We must strengthen our relationship with America鈥β�

For our security, for our technology, for our trade and investment鈥β�

They are and always will be 鈥� indispensable.聽

And we will never choose between either side of the Atlantic.聽

In fact, Mr. Speaker鈥β�

If anything, the past week has shown that that idea to be totally unserious.聽

Because while some people may enjoy the simplicity of taking a side鈥β犅�

This week has shown with total clarity鈥β�

That the US is vital in securing the peace we all want to see in Ukraine.聽

So I welcome the opportunity for a new economic deal with the US鈥β�

Confirmed by the President last week鈥β�

Because it is an opportunity I am determined to pursue.聽

I welcome the positive discussions we had on European security鈥β�

Including his clear support for Article 5 of NATO.聽聽聽

I welcome the understanding, from our dialogue鈥β犅�

That our two nations will work together on security arrangements for a lasting peace in Ukraine.聽

And I also welcome the President鈥檚 continued commitment to that peace鈥β�

Which nobody in this House should doubt for a second - is sincere.聽

Mr. Speaker, I now turn to events this weekend鈥�

And the moving scenes that greeted President Zelenskyy as he arrived in London on Saturday.聽

Mr. Speaker I saw for myself that he was taken aback when the crowd in Whitehall cheered at the top of their voices, and they were speaking for the whole of our country.

A reminder - that this Government, this House and this nation鈥β�

Stand in unwavering support behind him and the people of Ukraine.聽

Mr. Speaker, we resolved together鈥�

To move forward the strong cause of just and lasting peace for Ukraine.聽聽

And then on Sunday鈥β�

I hosted European leaders from across our continent, equally committed to this cause鈥β犅�

Including President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni鈥β�

The leaders of NATO, the European Commission and Council鈥β�

And the Prime Minister of Canada鈥β�

A vital ally of this country, the Commonwealth and Ukraine鈥β�

Responsible for training over 40,000 Ukrainian troops.聽聽

I also had the privilege beforehand鈥β�

Of speaking online to the leaders of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia鈥β�

Each of whom, as close as they are to the frontline with Russia鈥β�

Stressed the urgency of the moment.聽

And Mr. Speaker, it was a productive summit.聽聽

Together, we agreed a clear strategy.聽聽

That the United Kingdom, France and our allies鈥β犅�

Will work closely with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting鈥β�

Which we will then discuss directly with the United States.聽

It is a plan that has four clear principles, which I will now share in full with the House.聽

First, that we must keep the military aid to Ukraine flowing鈥�

Keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia.聽

And to that end, alongside our partnership on air defence鈥�

We are doubling-down on military aid.聽

Already this year we have taken our support to record levels鈥�

But on Saturday we also agreed a new 拢2.2 billion loan for Ukraine鈥β�

Backed, not by the British taxpayer鈥�

But by the profits from frozen Russian assets.

Second, we agreed that any lasting peace must guarantee the sovereignty and security of Ukraine.聽

And that Ukraine must be at the table when negotiating their future鈥β�

That is absolutely vital.聽

Third, we agreed that in the event of a peace deal鈥�

We will continue to boost Ukraine鈥檚 defences and Ukraine鈥檚 deterrence.聽

And finally, fourth鈥�

We agreed to develop a 鈥渃oalition of the willing鈥� ready to defend a deal in Ukraine鈥β�

And guarantee the peace.聽

After all, the Ukrainian position is completely understandable.聽

For them 鈥� the war did not begin three years ago鈥�

That was merely the latest and most brutal escalation.聽聽

They have signed agreements with Putin, before.聽

They have experienced the nature of his diplomacy鈥�

And the calibre of his word.聽聽

We can鈥檛 accept a weak deal like Minsk again鈥β�

No, we must proceed with strength鈥β�

And that does now require 鈥� urgently鈥β�

A coalition of the willing.聽

Mr. Speaker 鈥� we agreed on Sunday that those willing to play a role in this鈥β�

Will intensify planning now.聽聽

And as this House would expect鈥β�

Britain will play a leading role.聽

With, if necessary and together with others鈥β�

Boots on the ground and planes in the air.聽

Mr. Speaker, it is right that Europe do the heavy lifting鈥β�

To support peace on our continent.聽

But to succeed, this effort must also have strong US backing.聽

I want to assure the House鈥β�

I take none of this lightly.聽

I visited British troops in Estonia.

And no aspect of my role weighs more heavily鈥β�

Than the deployment of British troops in the service of the defence and security in Europe.

And yet I do feel very strongly鈥β犅�

That the future of Ukraine is vital for our national security.聽

Russia is a menace in our waters and skies鈥β�

They have launched cyber-attacks on our NHS鈥β�

Assassination attempts in our streets.聽聽

In this House, we stand by Ukraine because it is the right thing to do鈥β�

But we also stand by them because it is in our interest to do so.聽

Because if we do not achieve a lasting peace鈥�

Then the instability and insecurity that has hit the living standards of working people in Britain鈥�

That will only get worse.聽

And Putin鈥檚 appetite for conflict and chaos鈥�

That will only grow.聽

So a strong peace鈥�

A just peace鈥β�

A lasting peace鈥β�

That has now to be our goal.聽聽

It is vital鈥β�

It is in our interest鈥β�

And its pursuit - Britain will lead from the front.聽

For the security of our continent鈥�

The security of our country鈥�

And the security of the British people鈥β�

We must now win the peace.聽

And I commend this statement to the House.