Oral Answers to Questions

Adrian Sanders Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Ellwood]

The immediate priority is to have a ceasefire in place, and then, as John Kerry has stated, we can move towards a longer term solution, which must include all aspects, including—dare I say it?—the territories. These must be considered following on from the ceasefire itself.

[Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay) (LD)]

22. What discussions he has had with the French Government on arms sales to Russia; and if he will make a statement.

[The Minister for Europe (Mr David Lidington)]

The United Kingdom has already suspended all such export licences to Russia where exports could be used against Ukraine. We have discussed the possibility of an EU-wide arms and defence exports embargo with the French Government, both bilaterally and at European Council and Council of Ministers meetings.

[Mr Sanders]

I urge the Minister to press the French and other EU countries more on that, because it really is time we all put principle ahead of short-term economic interest and stopped arming the Russian regime.

[Mr Lidington]

The Prime Minister made the British Government’s position clear yesterday during his response to questions on his statement. It is obviously for the French Government to take that decision, which at the moment they plan to take in October this year, and to defend whatever decision they take.