Debates between Lord Carlile of Berriew and Earl of Minto during the 2019-2024 Parliament

Tue 28th Nov 2023

Ukraine

Debate between Lord Carlile of Berriew and Earl of Minto
Tuesday 28th November 2023

(11 months, 2 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Earl of Minto Portrait The Earl of Minto (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, this is not within my brief; this is for those at the Home Office. I will certainly contact them and find out exactly where they are in their thinking. My understanding is that there is no intention to do anything other than continue the current situation.

Lord Carlile of Berriew Portrait Lord Carlile of Berriew (CB)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

My Lords, in 2008 it was declared by NATO that Ukraine should become a member. Yesterday Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, declared that it was the intention now that Ukraine should become a member. Will the Government tell us the timetable for Ukraine to become a member of NATO and, thereby, to have the full protection of that organisation?

Earl of Minto Portrait The Earl of Minto (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, I am not aware of any timetable, and I am not certain there is one. For Ukraine to become a member of NATO, the prerequisite is that there are no foreign troops on its soil. There certainly are foreign troops on its soil in vast quantities. Until that is resolved, I cannot believe that the NATO alliance can do anything other than continue in its resilient resistance.