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  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with the Coalition of the Willing [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with the Coalition of the Willing [December 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 December 2025.

    The Prime Minister co-chaired a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister updated allies on this week’s engagements with other international partners and on the continued intensive work on the US-led peace plan.

    They all agreed this is a pivotal moment for Ukraine, its people, and for the security we all share across the Euro-Atlantic region.

    President Zelenskyy updated the group on the continued Russian bombardment of Ukraine, killing innocent civilians and destroying critical infrastructure.

    The leaders then discussed the significant progress made in starving Russia’s war machine through coordinated sanctions and enforcement, and in stepping up support for Ukraine. They also discussed the progress made on mobilising frozen Russian Sovereign Assets.

    As Ukraine enters its fourth winter of fighting, the leaders agreed on the importance of continuing to fund military support. The Prime Minister underscored that the UK would continue to work closely with partners to maintain pressure on Russia and provide Ukraine with the support it needs for as long as it takes.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The Mechanism should be a small, temporary and efficient structure – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : The Mechanism should be a small, temporary and efficient structure – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 December 2025.

    Statement by Legal Adviser Colin McIntyre at the UN Security Council meeting on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.

    Today’s briefing occurs at an important time for the Mechanism.  

    In the first half of 2026 Council Members will engage in detailed discussions on the future of the Mechanism.  

    Whilst the details of those discussions will take place over the months ahead there are some general principles which, in our view, should guide the work of the Council.

    First, and as the Council has agreed previously, the Mechanism should be a small, temporary and efficient structure, whose functions and size diminish over time and whose staffing and structure should be commensurate with those functions. 

    Given the completion of the Mechanism’s core crimes work, it is natural and appropriate that, in future, the Mechanism should be a substantially smaller institution than has been the case to date.  

    This would be reflective of the truly residual nature of the institution at this later stage in the justice cycle.

    In order to achieve this, it would be appropriate to transfer certain functions currently performed by the Mechanism either to States or to other institutional structures. 

    The UK is grateful for the work which the Mechanism and the principals have already undertaken in assessing how this could be achieved in practice.  

    We are pleased that there appears to be a considerable degree of agreement between the Prosecutor, President and Secretary General on this matter.  

    This is welcome and provides a strong starting point for the work that lies ahead.

    There will, of course, be a range of proposals and we stand ready to consider those.

    However, to comment briefly on a specific example, the UK can see a strong case for the transfer of work relating to the provision of assistance to national jurisdictions away from the Mechanism.  

    Such work remains valuable, as is attested to, by the ongoing demand for this assistance from States.  

    But such a workstream may not need to be provided by the Mechanism as currently structured. 

    Nonetheless, Mr President, it is also clear that some functions will, of necessity, need to remain at the international level.  

    This includes certain judicial functions, for instance, where there is a need for consistency in decision-making.  

    As we move ahead with this work, we look forward to receiving the upcoming OIOS and Secretary General reports, which we are confident will prove of assistance to Council Members.

    In relation to the archives, we agree with the principle that, where possible, these should be housed as close as possible to affected communities.  

    We hope and expect that this will prove to be the case in respect of the archives of the ICTR.  

    We hope the same will also apply to the archives of the ICTY and, at minimum, we see a good case for these to be located in Europe.

    Finally, and on a different note, we wish to extend our gratitudes to the Mechanism for facilitating a visit by representatives of Council Members to the UN Detention Unit in The Hague during this reporting period.  

    This enabled Council members to see for themselves the fully satisfactory nature of the provision there.

  • NEWS STORY : Resident Doctors in England to stage Strike after Rejecting Government Offer

    NEWS STORY : Resident Doctors in England to stage Strike after Rejecting Government Offer

    STORY

    Resident doctors in England have voted overwhelmingly to press ahead with a five day strike beginning on 17 December 2025, after rejecting the Government’s latest offer aimed at ending their long running dispute over pay, training and working conditions. The ballot showed a large majority against the proposal, with turnout significantly higher than in previous consultations. The decision comes as the NHS faces severe winter pressures, with hospitals already stretched by an intense seasonal flu wave.

    The walkout has drawn sharp criticism from the Prime Minister in recent days. Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said that the prospect of industrial action during what he described as one of the most challenging periods the health service has faced in years was deeply concerning, urging doctors to reconsider and accept the deal on the table. Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, echoed that sentiment, warning that the timing of the strike could cause serious disruption to patient care and undermine efforts to stabilise services during the winter surge.

    Resident doctors’ representatives insist the Government’s offer fails to address longstanding concerns about real terms pay erosion and career progression, and argue that the Government’s comments amount to unfair pressure rather than meaningful negotiation. NHS leaders are now preparing for significant operational strain next week, with trusts activating contingency plans to protect urgent and emergency care as the strike approaches.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK secures £840m in valuable fishing opportunities for 2026 [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK secures £840m in valuable fishing opportunities for 2026 [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 December 2025.

    Agreements between the UK, EU, Norway and other coastal states secure access to over 80 stocks for British fishing industry.

    The UK has reached agreement with the EU, Norway and other coastal states on catch opportunities for shared stocks for 2026, including agreements for popular whitefish stocks in the North Sea. These provide access to over 520,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities for 2026, worth an estimated £830 million. 

    Additionally, the UK participated in multilateral consultations which brings the total UK fishing opportunities secured in deals to £840m. This includes an increase of bluefin tuna quota from 63 tonnes up to 231 tonnes. 

    The deals come amid challenging scientific evidence showing that certain stocks, such as cod, whiting, haddock, sole and plaice are under significant pressure. As part of the agreements all parties are required to take action to recover stocks and safeguard them for future generations. 

    Fisheries Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:  

    This year, more than others, it has been vitally important to respond to concerning scientific evidence about fish stock levels.   

    By working closely with the EU, Norway and other countries, the UK has secured over 520,000 tonnes of valuable fishing opportunities for British fisheries next year while taking action to safeguard stocks for future generations.   

    This is a balanced and sustainable approach which will help recover important stocks to healthy and productive levels whilst also giving fishing communities the opportunities they need to thrive.”   

    The negotiations demonstrate the UK’s commitment to working constructively with the EU, Norway and other coastal states to navigate difficult scientific advice and find pragmatic solutions that protect marine ecosystems whilst supporting coastal communities. 

    Sustainability has been at the heart of the UK’s approach to negotiations. The UK has based its approach on the best available science from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, to manage fisheries sustainably while securing opportunities for UK fleets. 

    This approach has also considers the experiences of stakeholders within the UK most affected by the outcome of these negotiations, including the UK fishing industry, the recreational sector, and environmental NGOs. 

    Throughout the negotiations, the UK government has worked closely with the devolved governments to ensure the benefits are spread across the UK. 

    ENDS 

    Negotiations breakdown in detail 

    As an independent coastal state, the UK negotiates with other coastal states each year to manage shared fisheries. These talks determine the total allowable catches (TACs) for around 100 fish stocks – setting limits on how much can be caught the following year based on the health and vulnerability of each stock and ensuring that fishing levels respond to the latest scientific advice about which stocks need protection and which can sustain higher catches. 

    UK-EU bilateral 

    Through a bilateral deal with the EU, the UK has secured fishing opportunities of 150,000 tonnes for the UK fishing industry worth around £430 million, based on historic landing prices. The UK also secured continued access to fish non-quota stocks in EU waters, worth around £25 million in 2024. 

    In the face of challenging scientific evidence, the UK has secured key priorities for UK industry, including increased opportunities for the pollack and seabass fisheries, a commercially viable total allowable catch (TAC) for Irish Sea herring, the removal of a maximum landing size for spurdog, and geographical flexibility for sole in the Celtic Sea (Area 7). 

    In direct response to the depleted status of cod, whiting, haddock, sole and plaice stocks in the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and Channel, the agreement will see the introduction of new technical measures for EU and UK vessels to reduce overfishing of these vulnerable stocks. For example, the adoption of larger mesh sizes for some EU and UK vessels in the Celtic Sea and Channel and new selectivity devices for the Nephrops fishery in the Irish sea.

    Defra will continue to work closely with the fishing industry to support them to implement new measures in 2026. 

    UK-EU-Norway trilateral 

    The trilateral deal with the EU and Norway secures UK fisheries 290,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities in the North Sea and surrounding waters, worth up to £380 million based on historic landing prices. 

    This year the UK have also secured a landmark deal on North Sea herring to deliver more sustainable trilateral management of the stock. The trilateral agreement secured a workable outcome for the UK whitefish industry in the face of very challenging scientific advice, alongside measures to help protect Northern Shelf cod which will be implemented from January 2026. 

    Coastal States negotiations  

    The UK has reached agreement with other coastal States on fishing opportunities for blue whiting and Norwegian spring-spawning (Atlanto-Scandian) herring in the North-East Atlantic in 2026. These opportunities are worth an estimated £20 million to the UK fleet, based on 2024 landing prices. TACs for these two stocks have been agreed in line with ICES advice.   

    Discussions on the 2026 TAC for mackerel, and associated management measures, are ongoing among coastal States.   

    North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) 

    The UK worked with other parties to secure new monitoring, control and surveillance measures. This included taking steps to bring the NEAFC scheme into alignment with guidelines published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on at-sea transhipment.  

    Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) 

    Following negotiations with Contracting Parties to the Northwest Atlantic Fishing Organization (NAFO), the UK has secured fishing opportunities for cod in the North-West Atlantic, worth an estimated £5 million based on historic landing prices. 

    International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 

    The UK secured an increase from 63 tonnes to 230.65 tonnes of bluefin tuna per year for 2026 to 2028. This will enable the further development of commercial and recreational bluefin tuna fisheries in the UK and Crown Dependencies from 2026 to 2028. UK fishing opportunities secured in this forum for 2026 are worth around £5m based on historic landing prices. The UK also progressed important measures to further tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and to protect vulnerable species of sharks.  

    UN General Assembly Consultations (UNGA) 

    At the UN General Assembly consultations on the sustainable fisheries resolution, the UK secured references to the latest findings regarding the status of global fish stocks and new text addressing bycatch of endangered albatross and petrels. 

    NOTES TO EDITORS 

    • The outcome of annual fisheries negotiations will be published in the Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British boats by the end of the year. 
    • The values in this press notice are based on full uptake of fishing opportunities and 2024 landing prices. In cases where 2024 landing prices were unavailable, historic prices or the price of a comparable TAC have been used as an alternative. All figures are rounded and may change slightly once a full analysis has been completed.  
    • Consistent prices are applied across each year to allow for a direct year-on-year comparison of negotiated outcomes, avoiding accounting for price fluctuations due to other factors external to the negotiations. 
    • Bilateral fisheries negotiations between the UK and the Faroe Islands are currently on-going.    
    • Negotiations with other coastal States on North-East Atlantic mackerel are ongoing. 
  • PRESS RELEASE : UK “All In” on AUKUS submarine and tech delivery as partnership powers full steam ahead [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK “All In” on AUKUS submarine and tech delivery as partnership powers full steam ahead [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 December 2025.

    The Defence Secretary met with his US and Australian counterparts in the United States to discuss the progress on AUKUS.

    • AUKUS partnership “full steam ahead” as US review concludes and focus shifts to delivery.
    • UK has committed £6 billion to AUKUS in the last 18 months alone, bolstering Britain’s security and driving growth.
    • Continuous UK submarine building under AUKUS set to deliver up to 12 new attack submarines and support over 20,000 British jobs.

    Attack submarines and advanced military technology will help protect the UK, US and Australia as all three nations fully commit to the historic partnership, with the work set to create more than 7,000 UK jobs.  

    Following the conclusion of the United States’ AUKUS review, the partnership is “full steam ahead” for delivery of cutting-edge equipment which will help deter adversaries in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.  

    Defence Secretary John Healey joined his counterparts, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, at the Pentagon today to collectively shift the focus of the AUKUS partnership to delivery – declaring that business as usual is “not an option”. 

    With global instability rising, the three nations agreed that AUKUS must now move at pace to translate plans into hard capability. The meeting marked a decisive shift towards delivery for submarine development and turning advanced military technology projects into frontline warfighting capabilities under Pillar II. 

    The UK is backing this commitment with action, investing £6 billion under the current government into critical infrastructure at Barrow and Derby that will realise the ability to construct a new AUKUS submarine every 18 months.

    SSN-AUKUS will be the most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy, creating more than 7,000 new jobs across the UK supply chain and backing 21,000 jobs at peak production, making defence an engine for growth and supporting the government’s Plan for Change.  

    That benefit is already being felt, with more than 3,000 new jobs across key UK sites for nuclear work have been created since July 2024, with an additional 4,400 construction roles expected to be created over the coming years. 

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: 

    This is full steam ahead for AUKUS. Our reviews are done. Now, we deliver.   

    In this new era of threat, with adversaries who are increasingly cooperating, business as usual is not an option.   

    AUKUS is too significant and the stakes are too high for it to be allowed to drift. Our driving focus now is overcoming any barriers to delivery. And the UK is all in.   

    With billions being invested in UK infrastructure, this programme demonstrates defence as an engine for growth – boosting our shared security, keeping our people safe and creating good jobs across our three nations.   The work builds on the UK leadership as part of the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine, and the UK’s move to be at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, including through the pioneering hybrid Navy approach announced earlier this week. Britain is also providing increased technical and military assistance to Australia through the Geelong Treaty to accelerate Australian capability to operate nuclear-powered submarines.  

    AUKUS will deliver significant economic benefits for communities across the UK. The partnership will expand Britain’s submarine fleet with up to 12 attack boats, supported by continuous production delivering a new submarine every 18 months. 

    The wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise is projected to support around 65,000 UK jobs by 2030. These are highly skilled, well-paid positions, with nuclear sector salaries averaging £45,500 – 20% above the national average. This investment is bringing prosperity to areas of Britain with the greatest need, demonstrating how defence spending delivers real benefits to working people across the country. 

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ministry of Defence confirms the death of Lance Corporal George Thomas Hooley [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ministry of Defence confirms the death of Lance Corporal George Thomas Hooley [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 December 2025.

    It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Lance Corporal George Hooley, who died in Ukraine on 9 December 2025.

    Lance Corporal Hooley died following a tragic accident whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability, away from the front lines. He was 28 years old. 

    Lance Corporal Hooley was born on 12 February 1997. He joined the Army in November 2015, attending the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick where he completed the renowned Pre-Parachute Selection Course (P Company). Completing the course top of his cohort as ‘P Company Champion’, he joined The Parachute Regiment. 

    Lance Corporal Hooley was an exceptional soldier and an impressive junior leader with extensive operational experience. He progressed swiftly through key promotion courses. He completed The Parachute Regiment’s Junior Non-Commissioned Officers’ course in October 2020, passing with a Distinction grade, and securing promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal. More recently, he completed the Section Commanders’ Battle Course, held at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon, again securing an impressive Distinction grade. As a result of his exceptional performance and potential, Lance Corporal Hooley was due to promote to Corporal in January 2026, and as such, was trusted with the responsibilities of a Corporal on this, his latest, deployment. Lance Corporal Hooley had previously deployed to Afghanistan, Africa, and Eastern Europe. 

    His Commanding Officer said:  

    Lance Corporal Hooley’s future within The Parachute Regiment was incredibly bright, and I have no doubt that he would have continued to perform at the very front of his peer-group over the coming years. All members of The Parachute Regiment mourn his loss; however, our sorrow is nothing compared to that being felt by his family, our thoughts and prayers are with them at this incredibly difficult time. 

    His Company Commander said:  

    If you met George Hooley, you remembered it. His energy and enthusiasm were simply extraordinary. He provided spark that lifted others, a drive that inspired, and a zest for life that reminded us all how to live with purpose and joy. And we loved him for it. George had a rare gift: a deep kindness and genuine time for everyone. Whether you were a lifelong friend, a colleague, or someone he had just met, he made you feel valued. He listened – properly listened – and he cared. His door was always open, and his heart even more so. 

    At work, he was the model of professionalism. George didn’t just do his job; he excelled at it. A born soldier, he set the standard – the other soldiers watched to learn how things should be done, he made us all better, individually and collectively. He approached every task with dedication, integrity and pride. His colleagues will tell you that he wasn’t just part of the team, he was the character within it. The glue. The laughter. The calm voice of sense. The soldier who made the hard days easy and the good days memorable.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: 

    Lance Corporal George Hooley served our country with distinction and professionalism. He was an exceptional soldier who will be very deeply missed.  

    My thoughts are with George’s family, loved ones and his colleagues. The tributes that have been paid to him are a testament to his exceptional attitude and ability.  

    George’s tragic death reminds us of the courage and commitment with which our outstanding Armed Forces serve every day to protect our nation.

  • Chris Elmore – 2025 Speech on Human Rights Day

    Chris Elmore – 2025 Speech on Human Rights Day

    The speech made by Chris Elmore, the Foreign Office Minister, in London on 10 December 2025.

    Good morning.

    It’s great to see you all today.

    The UN’s theme this year – “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials” – couldn’t be more timely.

    And it really resonates with me after my visit to Jamaica to see the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, just five short days ago.

    We often speak about our basic human rights and needs in jest, but meeting a seven year old boy – who will be eight-years-old on the 28th of December – in Jamaica last week, whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Melissa and whose only Christmas wish was a working toilet, brought home to me the stark reality of millions around the world living without these essentials, whether through disaster, poverty, conflict or political oppression.

    Hurricane Melissa was devastating, and I pay tribute to the Government of Jamaica and its people for their extraordinary response and resilience in the face of such hardship.

    Today we reflect on how human rights are at the heart of our daily lives and when I talk about human rights, I also mean democracy and the rule of law.

    The three go hand in hand.

    Yet today, more and more people threaten to roll-back our hard-won freedoms.

    That’s why our commitment to human rights – here at home and around the world – matter.

    Not just because it’s morally and legally right, though of course it is, but because it’s in our shared interest. They allow us as individuals, as communities and as societies to thrive and prosper.

    As an MP, I’ve seen people campaigning for fairness, equality and safety.

    From local charities helping the homeless, to residents campaigning for clean air, to families hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

    This is civic engagement at its best – people exercising their rights to speak out, to organise, to assemble, and to live free from discrimination.

    But it’d be a mistake to think that human rights are there just to protect our freedoms.

    Because they also serve our national interest, our security, our growth and our long-term prosperity. 

    Respect for the rule of law gives businesses confidence.

    Economic and social rights help create a healthy, educated workforce.

    And the right to life, freedom from torture, freedom of religion or belief and expression keep us safe.

    Security and prosperity cannot be achieved without guaranteeing human rights.

    How we protect rights must also evolve to reflect the challenges of the 21st century.

    We believe in the European Convention on Human Rights.

    It helped create a neighbourhood of countries with a strong record on human rights, directly contributing to the peace and security Europe has enjoyed since the second world war.

    It has also delivered real benefits for British people – a full inquest for the families of the Hillsborough victims, the abolition of corporal punishment in schools, and the right for gay people to serve in our armed forces.

    So of course, the UK remains committed to the Convention.

    At the same time, we also believe that it must evolve to face the challenges of the day.

    As the Prime Minister has said, we need to modernise how it’s interpreted in the context of irregular migration.

    And that work is already underway, with the Deputy Prime Minister in Strasbourg today meeting other Justice Ministers to take it forward. 

    But laws and conventions only matter if they make a difference to real lives.

    And right now, across the world, too many lives are under attack.

    • Palestinians assaulted in olive groves in the West Bank.
    • Women in the DRC raped with impunity.
    • Prisoners tortured in Damascus.
    • Children killed by missiles in Ukraine.
    • And crimes in Sudan so appalling that they can be seen from satellites in space.

    These are outrageous examples of tragedies, entirely inconsistent with international human rights and humanitarian law, and they are unfolding as we speak.

    They remind us why we must act.

    Doing nothing will only normalise impunity, making everyone, everywhere less safe.

    That is why FCDO funds partners in Syria to document atrocities and build evidence to achieve accountability.

    That is why we work with leaders like Nobel Laureate Dr Denis Mukwege on a survivor-centred approach when addressing sexual violence.

    And that’s why the Foreign Secretary, who sends her apologies today, is personally determined to end impunity for sexual violence in conflict, pursue peace in Gaza and the West Bank, and drive urgent action in Sudan.  

    But we cannot do this alone.

    Today as we mark the end of 16 days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, it is clear that we all have a role to play.

    Over the last two weeks, my officials have met activists and organisations working to stop violence against women and girls in Sudan and elsewhere.

    We want to do everything possible to help amplify their calls for justice and change and it makes me immensely grateful for the work you do.

    Not just in responding to these issues but in raising their profile, keeping the pressure on us to act, and holding us to account to do so.

    That’s why I’m concerned that civil society is under attack in so many countries because of repressive legislation.

    I want to pay particular tribute to courageous human rights defenders and advocates around the world, putting their lives in danger day after day to fight for what’s right.  

    I’m honoured that some of them are with us today, and I look forward to hearing from them shortly.

    Now, last year my predecessor set out the FCDO’s approach to human rights and governance.

    I’m proud of the progress we’ve made since then and I will build on this excellent work.

    We’ve strengthened the rule of law worldwide by offering free legal expertise in over 50 countries.

    We’re holding war criminals to account, including for war crimes committed in Ukraine. 

    We helped set up the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group which supports the Ukrainian government in delivering justice.

    We’re supporting the establishment for a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, and I am pleased that we formally endorsed its legal basis earlier this year.

    And we’re championing equal rights for all, including through the Deputy Prime Minister’s powerful global campaign to ensure every child grows up in a safe, loving family environment.

    Yet there is still so much to do.

    And that’s why I’m pleased that the UK has been re-elected to serve on the UN Human Rights Council for the next two years, giving us the chance to share our experiences with others.   

    Now, while this is a significant opportunity, I know that many of you are concerned about cuts in our foreign aid budgets.

    So I want to reassure you that we’re determined to find new innovative ways to support change on the ground, working ever more closely with local actors, focusing on impact, and publicly reporting what we do.

    And all of this will be backed by a strong diplomatic network of Embassies and High Commissions who will continue to champion these agendas around the world.   

    And we’ll use our influence in the multilateral system to keep human rights at the heart of its work while making sure they remain the foundation of all that FCDO does.

    Because it is only when human rights are protected that everyone has the chance to live with dignity and freedom. And that freedom being understood.

    Thank you all.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Trump of the United States, President Macron of France and Chancellor Merz of Germany [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Trump of the United States, President Macron of France and Chancellor Merz of Germany [December 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 10 December 2025.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz today.

    The leaders discussed the latest on the ongoing US-led peace talks, welcoming their efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, and to see an end to the killing. 

    Intensive work on the peace plan is continuing and will continue in the coming days. 

    They agreed that this was a critical moment – for Ukraine, its people and for shared security across the Euro-Atlantic region.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Construction of a new British High Commission in Nicosia begins [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Construction of a new British High Commission in Nicosia begins [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 December 2025.

    The British High Commission has announced that construction on the new buildings have started at the existing site in Nicosia.

    Our historic site, which was formerly part of the Central Prisons’ compound, will soon house a new, fit-for-purpose, eco-friendly High Commission, which will better symbolise the strong and growing partnership between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus. 

    The €40 million-plus project – the largest current project on the UK’s diplomatic estate – constitutes a mark of confidence in the strength of the bilateral relationship. And with the prime contractor being the Cypriot-owned firm Atlas Pantou, it is also a significant British investment into the Cypriot economy.

    Ground was broken in December and is the project is expected to be completed by November 2028. The project consists of a new High Commission office building, a security facility and a new Residence for the High Commissioner. The new compound will be carbon-neutral, contributing to Cyprus’ efforts to reduce emissions in our common fight to tackle the climate crisis.

    The existing High Commission buildings will continue to be functional until the opening of our new building. While there will be new temporary access points for visitors, our services will not be interrupted.

    British High Commissioner Michael Tatham, said:

    “Any new construction represents change and a departure from the past. We see this as a massive upgrade, reflecting the value that the UK attaches to its strong partnership with  the Republic of Cyprus. We are looking forward to seeing a new High Commission take shape – and to inviting our many Cypriot friends and partners to see it soon.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Escalation of Russian attacks undermines peace efforts in Ukraine – UK statement to the OSCE [December 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Escalation of Russian attacks undermines peace efforts in Ukraine – UK statement to the OSCE [December 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 December 2025.

    Ambassador Holland highlights the intensification of Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure in 2025, despite ongoing peace negotiations. He reiterates the UK’s grave concern and calls for Russia to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, cease its aggression, and engage seriously in negotiations.

    Thank you, Madam Chair. As we conclude the FSC’s work for 2025, the United Kingdom reiterates its grave concern at Russia’s ongoing campaign against Ukraine. Each winter since 2022, we have cited independent sources detailing Russia’s pattern of targeting of civilians and critical infrastructure. This year, that pattern has intensified. 

    Despite ongoing peace negotiations, Russia has escalated its attacks. Three data points make this very clear: 

    In 2025 Russia has killed over 2,200 Ukrainian civilians and injured more than 11,000. This is a 27% increase in casualties compared to last year.  

    Since Russia sent a delegation to the first bilateral talks with Ukraine in mid-May, it has launched the 35 largest air attacks of the entire war.  

    And from June to November, Russian drones fired have averaged over 5,300 a month. This is more than five times the 2024 monthly average.  

    This is not the conduct of a state seeking peace. That is why, at the Ministerial Council last week, our Minister said: “we are committed to holding Russia to account – for its illegal, unprovoked, and unjustifiable war against Ukraine; for the forced deportations of innocent children; and for unlawfully detaining civilians, including, as has been referenced, three members of this organisation’s staff.” 

    Mr Chair, the UK hopes that this is the last time we sit at this Forum against the backdrop of Russia’s war. As we have established clearly in this Forum, the only obstruction to peace is Russia’s continued willingness to fight a war of aggression that it started. A war which continues to cause misery and death on our continent. 

    The path to peace remains clear.  It is a path that Russia must choose. It must choose to return to full compliance with international law and the Helsinki Final Act. It must choose to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. And it must choose to cease its attacks, withdraw all of its forces from all of Ukraine, and to engage seriously in negotiations. Thank you.