Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the build-up of Russian forces along the border of Ukraine.

We are deeply concerned by Russia's pattern of military build-ups in and around Ukraine and are closely monitoring the situation. The Prime Minister spoke with President Putin on 25 October and President Zelenskyy on 1 November where he underscored UK support for Ukrainian sovereignty. The Foreign Secretary spoke to her Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Lavrov on 2 December and re-stated the UK's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, urging the Russian government to de-escalate the situation. The Foreign Secretary also spoke to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba on 26 November and 1 December to reassure Ukraine of our support. On the 8 December in London, the Foreign Secretary met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba at the inaugural UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue and agreed to continue UK support to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, deepen the trade relationship and invest in our shared future.

We have been clear with Russia that incursion into Ukraine would be a strategic mistake. The costs of an incursion would be catastrophically high and result in massive strategic consequences. We need to deter Russia from aggressive actions against Ukraine and we are looking at a package of sanctions to raise the cost of any further aggressive actions. We will back Ukraine in the face of destabilising or threatening behaviour. We have demonstrated strong support to Ukraine. The UK, alongside allies and partners, stand with Ukraine in opposing Russian threats to Ukraine's security and territorial integrity, and already support Ukrainian military development as well as regularly exercising with their armed forces.