Oral Answers to Questions

Seema Kennedy Excerpts
Tuesday 14th July 2015

(9 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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The Prime Minister spoke to President Putin in May and made it clear that while we disagree profoundly with Russia about Ukraine we are still prepared to try to work with Russia on combating international terrorism and advancing the cause of non-proliferation. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has this week been working with the Russian Foreign Minister and other partners in Vienna to that aim.

Seema Kennedy Portrait Seema Kennedy (South Ribble) (Con)
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Does my right hon. Friend agree that Russia’s actions in Crimea and Donbass are a fundamental challenge to rules-based order, and that it is vital that we stand up to that aggression?

David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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I completely agree with my hon. Friend’s point. The Russian annexation of Crimea and its continued intervention in the internal affairs of Ukraine are a breach of the Helsinki agreements as well as the agreements that Russia and Ukraine came to at the time of the break-up of the USSR. The precedent that has been set is extremely dangerous.