Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : UK statement on World Trade Organization’s review of Malaysia’s Trade Policy [February 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 February 2023.

The UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO in Geneva, Ambassador Simon Manley, gave a statement on 8 February 2023 during Malaysia’s 8th WTO Trade Policy Review.

Chair, let me warmly welcome the delegation of Malaysia to Geneva here today, led by our friend, Datuk ISHAM ISHAK, Secretary General of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. It’s great to have you all with us today!

Let me also thank the government of Malaysia and indeed the WTO Secretariat for their Reports. And the Secretary General for his very thorough presentation of Malaysia’s macro-economic policy this morning.

Chair, may I echo your comments to our distinguished Discussant, and very good friend, Ambassador Acarsoy, and offer our condolences to him, and indeed to all our friends at the Turkish Mission, for this appalling humanitarian tragedy which is unrolling before our eyes in both Turkiye and Syria.

As he knows, British search and rescue experts arrived last night in southeast Turkiye and indeed the Union flag flew at half-mast at our Embassy and Consulates across Turkiye yesterday. As a multilateral community, of which we are a part, these tragedies do remind us of the need for us to come together. As the Malaysian national motto says, ‘unity is strength’.

So returning to the business of this review let me start by commending Malaysia’s strong and resilient economic growth, which the Secretary General set out this morning. And of course that growth has been enabled by its openness. I was glad to read in that the World Bank report rates Malaysia as one of the most open economies in the world – a secret of its success in many ways. Malaysia’s aspiration to become a high-income country, by the time of their next TPR in 2028, is already producing positive results under that ambitious Twelfth Malaysia Plan, based on those themes of resetting the economy, strengthening security, wellbeing and advancing sustainability.

As the Secretary General knows, Malaysia is the UK’s second largest trading partner in Southeast Asia – with total trade reaching almost £6bn in the first four quarters to Q3 of 2022 and British exports increasing by just under 18% in the last year. We are also really pleased to have established a UK-Malaysia Joint Committee on Bilateral Trade and Investment Cooperation back in 2020, to promote trade and investment between our two great nations, and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

That initiative was upgraded to a Ministerial-led Joint Economic Trade Committee just last November. We look forward to continuing to build economic cooperation between our countries under this Committee, as well as more broadly through our new dialogue partner status in ASEAN.

We are also pleased to stand as Malaysia’s ninth largest foreign investor, with a strong corporate footprint in Malaysia with over 200 British companies investing in a wide variety of sectors across the economy. Education is at the heart of our relationship. There are five UK university branch campuses in Malaysia, as well as tens of thousands of young Malaysians attending schools and university in the UK, and we stand ready to support Malaysia’s ambition to become a regional education hub. And let me just mention in that respect, the now very famous Syabira Yusoff, a young Malaysian who came to study in the UK for a PhD and who las year achieved great fame in our country for winning the ‘Great British Bake-Off’.

We are also delighted that Malaysia has invested so significantly into the UK, with inward investments in 2020 valued at £780 million, representing an increase of almost 230% from the year before.

And, of course, our flourishing bilateral ties also extend here to Geneva. We are grateful for Malaysia’s active participation and engagement in the Investment Facilitation for Development, MSME and E-commerce Joint Initiatives. Through these initiatives, we share a common commitment to delivering for global businesses and global consumers. In this context, let me join others in encouraging Malaysia to consider joining the initiative on Services Domestic Regulation, where businesses, particularly in the developing world, are set to benefit by up to $150bn globally per year.

More broadly, our governments are working together on critical modern issues such as climate and forced labour. Indeed, my UN Deputy Permanent Representative is in Kuala Lumpur this week discussing human rights issues, among others, with our Malaysian partners.

Net-zero planning and green energy are shared priority issues for the UK and Malaysia on green trade, as highlighted by the Secretary General’s comments this morning. Indeed we in the UK established our own net-zero and energy department just yesterday. We signed the UK-Malaysia Climate Partnership MoU in July 2022, supporting greater technical assistance and knowledge sharing, and we will continue to work with government departments and agencies at all levels in support of those shared climate goals.

On forced labour, we really welcome Malaysia’s ratification of the ILO’s Forced Labour Convention last year and remain committed to working together to deliver our shared goal of ending modern slavery and coercive labour practices. We continue to support Malaysia’s work to deliver its National Action Plan through exchange of expertise and engagement across government, civil society and business.

Also commendable is Malaysia’s engagement in Trade & Gender, an issue very dear to the heart of my Minister, as Minister for both Business and Trade and Equalities, with clear efforts being made in Malaysia’s 2022 budget for women-led MSMEs and a specific commitment in the Twelfth Malaysia Plan to ensure further opportunities for female entrepreneurs and access to decision-making roles.

But, of course, there is always more we can do to strengthen our bilateral relationship.

In our Advance Written Questions, the UK sought to understand more about Malaysia’s trade policies and practices regarding government procurement, government-linked companies and tendering provisions, sustainable manufacturing practices, and excise duties.

We particularly encourage Malaysia to continue opening its legal services sector, including business services, to competition and to investment and to view this, as we do, as a realisable economic benefit. The opening of legal services will, in our view, support Malaysian corporations that are seeking to globalise and require specialist legal advice in Malaysia, and should promote the development of Malaysia into a legal hub within ASEAN.

Chair, we are grateful to Malaysia for their written responses and look forward to continuing to work together to address these important issues. And we are grateful to the whole team from Kuala Lumpur for being here with us today, and we wish Malaysia a successful Trade Policy Review and continuing success in progressing their Twelfth Malaysia Plan, with the UK, I hope, as a close partner too.

February 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : World’s first hydrogen-powered digger set to drive on UK roads [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 9 February 2023.

The first digger powered by a hydrogen combustion engine will soon be on UK roads and building sites.
- government approves the use of the world’s first digger powered by a hydrogen combustion engine on UK roads
- JCB’s hydrogen-powered backhoe loaders will soon be working on UK construction sites
- hydrogen-powered technology could help decarbonise the UK construction industry, creating hundreds of jobs
The world’s first digger, powered by a hydrogen combustion engine, will soon be on UK roads and building sites following recent government approval, helping to decarbonise the UK’s construction industry.

The UK government has given special dispensation, under a vehicle special order, that allows JCB, the British construction equipment manufacturer, to test and use its world-first hydrogen-powered backhoe loader on UK roads.

The vehicle special order given by the Transport Secretary allows JCB to test its new hydrogen-powered machine on the public highway. This backhoe loader is the first of its kind and offers a pioneering solution to help reduce emissions on construction sites.

With 25% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions coming from the built environment, it’s vital the entire construction industry looks to decarbonise at every stage.

Today (9 February 2023) not only marks a new direction for reducing emissions but will help grow the economy, with JCB having already created 150 new jobs in the Midlands with the promise of hundreds more as the company’s hydrogen project advances. These developments also help to equip the country with the skills and expertise to not only reduce emissions but provide learning to would-be apprentices, future-proofing the nation’s skillset.

Technology and Decarbonisation Minister Jesse Norman said:

From cars to construction sites, industry has a vital role in decarbonising our economy and creating green jobs and prosperity.

JCB’s investment in greener equipment is a great example of how industry can make this happen, using alternative fuels to generate sustainable economic growth.

JCB’s prototype hydrogen-powered backhoe loader is an important first step in the construction industry’s efforts to decarbonise in what is a ‘hard to decarbonise’ sector. Hydrogen combustion machines can play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions in settings where other types of clean power may not be the most practical or efficient.

JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said:

Securing this vehicle special order from the Department for Transport is an important first step in getting JCB machines that are powered by hydrogen combustion engines to and from British building sites using the public highway. It’s an endorsement that JCB is on the right path in pursuit of its net zero ambitions.

JCB’s hydrogen-powered backhoe loader is a world first in our industry, a digger with a purpose-engineered internal combustion engine that uses hydrogen gas as the energy source. It’s a real breakthrough – a zero CO2 fuel providing the power to drive the pistons in an internal combustion engine, a technology that’s been around for over 100 years, a technology that we are all familiar with.

I am delighted that the Decarbonisation Minister will witness for himself the first drive of a hydrogen-powered digger on the open road. It’s clear to me that, following this visit, he’ll appreciate the potential for hydrogen internal combustion engines to help deliver net zero targets more quickly, while adding jobs and contributing wider economic benefits to the construction sector.

Today Minister Norman will visit JCB’s headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, where he’ll see the digger take to the road near the factory where it was manufactured. He’ll also inspect one of JCB’s hydrogen combustion engines, which are the product of a £100 million investment project by JCB to build on their innovative British engineering and develop new lower emission powertrains.

The pace of JCB’s hydrogen developments showcase a level of commitment to decarbonisation that is needed across all sectors of the UK economy.

Hydrogen is just one of the many ways that the UK government is looking to accelerate decarbonisation. The recent announcement of second phase of the Tees Valley Hydrogen Hub builds on previous commitments to best explore how hydrogen can be utilised as an alternative fuel, whether that be through the use of hydrogen fuel cells on road or hydrogen internal combustion engines for off-road construction machinery.

The work seen as part of the hub in Tees Valley will work to address challenges such as providing refuelling infrastructure at scale and integrating that within a wider decarbonised energy network.

As hydrogen technologies develop here in the UK, it’s vital this knowledge helps shape the next generation of apprentices. During this year’s National Apprenticeship Week (6 to 12 February 2023), hydrogen continues to be a source of opportunity for new skills and jobs to be developed.

JCB’s expanding apprenticeship programme shows how apprentices can play a part in shaping a net zero future, building on the recent government commitment to deliver £300,000 towards the teaching of hydrogen skills as part of the Tees Valley Hydrogen Transport hub.
February 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : New UK certification to boost British hydrogen sector [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 9 February 2023.

UK’s first globally recognised certification scheme will help verify the sustainability of low carbon hydrogen, giving consumers the confidence to invest in cleaner energy.
- New certification scheme to verify sustainability of low carbon hydrogen, building transparency and confidence across the sector
- the scheme will help cement the UK’s place in the global race to ramp up hydrogen technology, incentivising hydrogen production, investment and use across the country
- supported by today’s extension of the UK’s first Hydrogen Champion appointment, the government is further accelerating hydrogen’s role in the UK’s greener energy future
Transparency and confidence in the UK’s low carbon hydrogen sector are set to increase on the world stage as the government today outlines plans for a globally recognised low carbon hydrogen certification scheme.

There is currently no recognised way for producers of low carbon hydrogen to prove the credentials of their product. The introduction of a reliable method to demonstrate the emissions credentials of hydrogen will play a vital role in decarbonising the UK hydrogen sector, promoting cross-border trade whilst stimulating growth and jobs in green hydrogen. The government will now begin consultation with industry, with the intention of introducing the certification scheme by 2025.

This will help the growing UK green energy market to verify sustainability claims, whilst delivering industry and consumer confidence in low carbon hydrogen. Hydrogen can be used in a variety of innovative ways, including as a raw material for products such as fertilisers and steel, and as a replacement fuel for high temperature processes such as glass manufacture or ceramics.

Further reflecting its hydrogen ambitions and ahead of celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science this week, the UK government has extended the appointment of the country’s first-ever Hydrogen Champion, Jane Toogood, for a further 6 months. The Hydrogen Champion’s role is key to bringing industry and government together to accelerate the development of the UK hydrogen economy, and as part of her role to date, Jane has met extensively with stakeholders across industry to assess opportunities and identify barriers to achieving this.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart said:

Consumers and businesses care about investing sustainably. Thanks to this new scheme, investors and producers will be able to confidently identify and invest in trusted, high-quality British sources of low carbon hydrogen, both home and abroad.

I look forward to working with industry as we deliver hydrogen as a secure, low carbon replacement for fossil fuels that will help us move towards net zero, secure jobs, and boost investment.

UK Hydrogen Champion Jane Toogood said:

Hydrogen is an essential piece of the puzzle to decarbonise UK industry, support clean growth and improve our long-term energy security. It’s great to see progress being made towards setting up a UK certification scheme – this is key to growing a low carbon hydrogen economy.

I am pleased to be continuing in the role as Hydrogen Champion and to share this news ahead of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science. Over the next 6 months, my priority will be to ensure that industry and government work together to generate investment in the hydrogen economy, kickstart hydrogen production and develop a UK hydrogen supply chain.

Since the publication of the UK Hydrogen Strategy in 2021, there has been a rapid increase in global interest and investment in the development of an international market for low carbon hydrogen. A certification scheme for low-carbon hydrogen could create benefits for the whole hydrogen value chain, from producers to users of hydrogen, promoting economic growth, job creation and greener businesses.

The scheme intends to use the methodology set out in the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard as the basis of the certification.

Today’s announcements build on the commitments made in the British Energy Security Strategy to double the UK’s hydrogen ambition to up to 10GW of new low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
February 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Business and Trade Secretary targets progress on post-Brexit trade wins in first visit to Mexico [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 9 February 2023.

Kemi Badenoch is visiting Mexico to progress two significant post-Brexit deals, remove barriers to business, and grow both UK exports and investment.
- Kemi Badenoch is the first cabinet minister for trade to visit Mexico since 2017, and will use meetings with Mexican ministers and businesses to unlock progress on two major deals
- Top of the agenda is UK’s bid to join CPTPP – the 11-country Indo-Pacific trade bloc worth combined £9 trillion in GDP, with Mexico a founding member
- She will also hold high level talks to boost bilateral UK-Mexico trade, already worth £4.5bn, as part of a new, modern two-way trade deal
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch is visiting Mexico today [9th February] to progress two significant post-Brexit deals, remove barriers to business, and grow both UK exports and investment.

On a two-day visit to Mexico City she will hold talks with her cabinet counterparts, including Mexico’s Secretary of Economy Raquel Buenrostro, to discuss the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and a new bilateral UK-Mexico deal.

The UK is nearing the final stages of talks to join the £9 trillion (GDP) Indo-Pacific trade bloc made up of some of the world’s biggest current and future economies. Joining could give UK businesses tariff-free access on over 99% of goods to a market of around 500 million customers.

The UK is also renegotiating our Free Trade Agreement with Mexico – first agreed 20 years ago – to bring it into the digital age, and ensure it reflects UK strengths in areas like services and tech.

Our ‘Mexico 2.0’ deal could transform the UK’s relationship with the world’s 16th biggest economy and open up one of the world’s largest consumer markets – with a population projected to reach nearly 150 million by 2035.

A new UK-Mexico deal would aim to deliver major opportunities for small businesses across the country as well as the financial services and tech sectors thanks to expansive services provisions, boosting the £1.9bn worth of services trade the UK already does with Mexico.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

Mexico is a top-20 global economy, and a core member of the exciting trans-pacific trade bloc. I’m here to push progress on two significant post-Brexit wins that will not only benefit British businesses, but also show what the UK has to offer CPTPP countries.

We will add £2 trillion to the bloc’s GDP when we join, taking it up to 15% of the world’s GDP, and will add a strong voice promoting free trade and defending against protectionism on the global stage.

Whilst there, the Business and Trade Secretary will meet with the Finance Minister Rogelio Ramírez de la O and finance firms to discuss opportunities for British businesses to tap into the country’s fast-growing fintech sector – the second largest in Latin America.

Kemi Badenoch, who also serves as the UK’s Equalities Minister, will launch the next phase of the UK’s Gender Pay Gap project in Mexico, aimed at upskilling Mexican businesses and government stakeholders on gender pay gap reporting.

The project aligns with both countries’ commitment to include a dedicated trade and gender equality chapter in the FTA which aims to break down barriers faced disproportionately by women in trade.

She flew straight from Rome, fresh after signing a new trade partnership to promote investment and exports between the UK and Italy. The last visit to Mexico by a cabinet minister for trade was in 2017, when Liam Fox visited in July.

Background:

See below figures on selected top goods imports and exports to/from Mexico – according to ONS trade data for the last 12 months to November 2022.

Some of our top imports from Mexico are:
- Cars & other vehicles £172m
- Telecoms and sound equipment (ie smartphones, sound recording equipment etc) £133m
- Beverages (ie beer, tequila) £57m
- Fruit and vegetables (including mangos, avocados and lemons and more) £43m
Some of our top exports to Mexico are:
- Beverages (including whisky) £144m
- Cars and other vehicles £105m
- Iron and steel £63m
- Misc electrical goods (ie fridges, insulating equipment etc) £46m
February 9, 2023
Peter Aldous – 2023 Parliamentary Question on National Resilience

The parliamentary question asked by Peter Aldous, the Conservative MP for Waveney, in the House of Commons on 2 February 2023.

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)

What progress his Department has made in strengthening national resilience.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Oliver Dowden)

Resilience is a key priority across Government. My Department has already published the resilience framework, refreshed the national security risk assessment and established a risk sub-committee of the National Security Council, which I chair. We will soon publish a new national risk register, and this afternoon I will chair the UK resilience forum, which strengthens our links with partners across the country in collectively tackling the risks we face.

Peter Aldous

I draw attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, as I am involved in family farms.

As the breadbasket of Britain and home to the all-energy coast, East Anglia has a key role to play in strengthening national resilience on food and energy security. Can my right hon. Friend outline the co-ordinating work his Department is doing with other Departments to ensure the east of England realises its full potential in both feeding the nation and keeping the lights on?

Oliver Dowden

My hon. Friend is right to highlight East Anglia’s increasing role in providing energy security through its massive offshore wind developments, which are helping to provide secure renewable energy. In addition, the Government food strategy, which was published last year, sets out plans to boost domestic production in sectors with the biggest opportunities, which will of course include East Anglia.

February 8, 2023
Elliot Colburn – 2023 Parliamentary Question on Operation of Public Services During Industrial Action

The parliamentary question asked by Elliot Colburn, the Conservative MP for Carshalton and Wallington, in the House of Commons on 2 February 2023.

Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con)

What steps his Department is taking to support the operation of public services during industrial action.

Edward Timpson (Eddisbury) (Con)

What steps his Department is taking to support the operation of public services during industrial action.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Oliver Dowden)

All Departments are responsible for their own business continuity plans and have well-established contingency arrangements. The Cabinet Office’s Cobra unit has supported Departments to develop those arrangements to minimise the impact on public services. Yesterday, for example, more than 600 military personnel undertook action to support a smooth flow at the border. I pay tribute to the work that they and others did.

Elliot Colburn

As if the ultra low emission zone were not bad enough, Carshalton and Wallington residents have had to deal with strikes affecting the transport network, despite the Mayor’s promise of zero strikes. There is a very important point to be made about safety as a result of the ongoing impact on the transport network. Bus stops and railway stations in London face dangerous overcrowding when strikes are on. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that the safety of the remainder of the transport network will be a key factor when minimum service levels are set?

Oliver Dowden

As a Member of Parliament whose constituency borders London, I share my hon. Friend’s deep frustration with the conduct of the Mayor and with the ULEZ, which is a tax on hard-working commuters and citizens in London. My hon. Friend rightly raises a point about minimum service levels, which are at the root of the Government’s legislation—the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which passed through this House in the face of opposition from the Labour party—to protect standards of service and safety on our transport network.

Edward Timpson

Ambulance response times, particularly in rural areas such as Eddisbury, are one of those issues on which I seem to have been campaigning since I first came to Parliament. Like others, I am perplexed by the contrarian and regressive turn that has been taken in the policy area by unions representing ambulance workers, which are refusing to agree to minimum service and safety levels during industrial action. Does my right hon. Friend agree that they should embrace those common- sense measures? Perhaps the public would then be more sympathetic in the subsequent collective bargaining.

Oliver Dowden

As ever, I agree with my hon. and learned Friend. The public expect a minimum safety level in core public services such as ambulance provision, as exists in comparable European countries. This is a sensible, straightforward measure to ensure patient safety at a time of most desperate need, which is why the Government are bringing it forward—again, in the teeth of opposition from the Labour party.

February 8, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine [February 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 8 February 2023.

The Prime Minister hosted President Zelenskyy for a bilateral meeting during his visit to the UK today.

He paid tribute to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people’s courage and sacrifice. The Prime Minister thanked the President for his visit and powerful address to Parliament.

President Zelenskyy thanked the Prime Minister for his and the UK’s enduring support, including today’s announcement that the UK will start training to put Ukraine on the path to NATO-standard air combat capability, and that the UK will provide long-range weapons.

The leaders discussed the need to accelerate Ukraine’s counter-offensive, backed by support from the UK and other allies. That means providing the kind of advanced capabilities that the UK has announced today, and delivering the same level of equipment that was previously given in months in a matter of weeks.

They agreed that Ukraine’s counter-offensive against the Russian invasion can and will prevail, heralding in a more secure future for Ukraine.

February 8, 2023
Rishi Sunak – 2023 Press Conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The press conference with Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Dorset on 8 February 2023.

Volodymyr, it’s a privilege to stand here with you today, and to have you here in the United Kingdom.

The path from Ukraine to the UK has been well trodden over the past six months, with 10,000 of your soldiers making the journey for military training, and more arriving every week.

And just a few days ago, dozens arrived to learn how to operate our Challenger 2 tanks.

I am told they are already mastering the art of driving these sophisticated 62-ton weapons, which will soon be making a difference on the battlefields of your country.

All over the UK, Ukrainian men and women are learning how to command and control NATO-standard weapons, whether that is in drone warfare, tank operations or basic training. Their dedication, courage and determination is a credit to you and your country.

Volodymyr, now your visit here today underlines our two countries’ close and enduring friendship – we will always be by your side, our staunch and unwavering friends.

We both know the people of Ukraine’s incredible strength and inspiring bravery will ultimately defeat tyranny. That is why we are training and arming them with the equipment they need to push back Russian forces.

And as I said to you earlier today, we are also accelerating the delivery of our equipment, and the equipment of our allies, to ensure it reaches your frontline in the coming days and weeks, not months or years.

The Ukrainian crews who arrived last week will be using Challenger 2 tanks to defend Ukraine’s sovereign territory next month.

And I am pleased that today we have agreed that we will expand our training programme – a programme that has trained 10,000 troops in the last six months alone – to your marines and fighter jet pilots, ensuring the Armed Forces of Ukraine are able to defend their country for generations to come.

We must arm Ukraine in the short term, but we must bolster Ukraine for the long term. Your country cannot be left vulnerable to attack ever again.

Today we have signed the London Declaration, further deepening our cooperation, and in the coming days, we mark a year since the needless and unprovoked invasion, and Russia will see – more than ever – that their tactics are only solidifying western resolve. Only convincing us to go further, and faster, to help you, Volodymyr. And we will.

After all, you told me last week that collective, international unity is your greatest weapon, and you can be sure that we will deliver on that, not just now, but long into the future.

February 8, 2023
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2023 Speech to the UK Houses of Parliament

The speech made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, at the Houses of Parliament on 8 February 2023.

The people of the United Kingdom and their honorable representatives!

All the people of England and Scotland, of Wales and Northern Ireland!

Of all the lands which have been home to brave souls since Europe came into existence!

I have come here and stand before you on behalf of the Brave. On behalf of our warriors who are now in the trenches under enemy artillery fire. On behalf of our air gunners and every defender of the sky who protects Ukraine against enemy aircrafts and missiles. On behalf of our tank-men who fight to restore our Ukrainian border. On behalf of our conscripts who are being trained now, including here in Britain. Thank you, Britain! And who will be then deployed to the frontline – skilled, equipped and eager to win.

On behalf of every father and every mother who are waiting for their brave sons and brave daughters back home from the war.

Mister Speaker!

You may well remember as roughly more than two years ago we met with you here in the Parliament. It was a great honor for me. We enjoyed tea, we talked a lot about our people, our countries, the British and Ukrainian political traditions.

Mister Prime Minister! Rishi!

When we had our meeting earlier today, I said to you I would tell a story in my address to the Parliament. A story about my feelings on my first visit to London as president in autumn 2020.

The programme was packed. Royal Highnesses William and Catherine. Buckingham Palace. The aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. Westminster. Downing Street. And, of course, the War Rooms.

There is an armchair in the war room. The famous Churchill’s armchair. A guide smiled and offered me to sit down on the armchair from which war orders had been given. He asked me – how did I feel? And I said that I certainly felt something.

But it is only now that I know what the feeling was. And all Ukrainians know it perfectly well, too. It is the feeling of how bravery takes-you-through the most unimaginable hardships – to finally reward you with Victory.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

I thank you for your bravery. Thank you very much from all of us! This applause is for you!

London has stood with Kyiv since day one. From the first seconds and minutes of the full scale war.

Great Britain, you extended your helping-hand when the world had not yet come to understand how to react. Boris, you got others united when it seemed absolutely impossible. Thank you!

You all showed your grit and character back then. Strong British character.

You didn’t compromise Ukraine. And hence you didn’t compromise your ideals. And thus you didn’t compromise the spirit of these great Islands. Thank you very much!

Our countries knew different times. Our nations defended freedom in the Second World War. The iron curtain divided us. Our people went through crises and growth, inflation, and periods of social losses and social gains.

It was tough but we always found strength and stamina to move ahead and achieve results.

This is the bedrock of our and your traditions.

Ukrainians and Brits defeated the fear of war and had the time to enjoy peace.

No matter what we encountered on different stages of our and your formidable history, you and us and the whole mankind achieved similar result – evil lost.

We will always come out on top of evil. This lies at the core of our – but also your – traditions.

However, the horizon never stays clear for a while. Once the old evil is defeated, the new one is attempting to rise its head.

Do you have a feeling that the evil will crumble once again? I can see it in your eyes now. We think the same way as you do. We know freedom will win. We know Russia will lose. We know the Victory will change the world! And this will be a change that the world has long needed.

The United Kingdom is marching with us towards the most important victory of our lifetime. It will be a victory over the very idea of the war.

After we win together, any aggressor – big or small – will know what awaits him if he attacks international order.

Any aggressor who will try to push the boundaries by force. Who will inflict destruction and death on other peoples. Who will try to endure his dictatorship at the expense of other people’s blood in criminal and unprovoked wars, as the Kremlin does. Any aggressor is going to lose.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

We have already achieved remarkable results. And we must make every effort to turn our achievements into the foundations of the future global security architecture.

The world needs your leadership, Britain, just as it needs Ukrainian bravery.

When the full-scale invasion began, we, together with you and the US and other allies, formed a true coalition of friends. This is very important.

You were among those very few who had helped before the large-scale invasion began – exactly as it will be necessary every time in the future to prevent aggression from happening.

Your help was preventive.

We must take these principles of preventive aid to those, who are threatened with aggression, and preventive sanctions – against those, who threaten aggression – as basic principles of the world anti-war policy.

We created a coalition of NLAW and Javelin that stopped the advance of the Russian army from the first day of the invasion.

We built a coalition of artillery rounds and a coalition of air defense, which allow us to save the lives of civilians, our women, children and elderly, in our cities from Russian atrocious occupation and missile terror.

We put together a powerful sanctions coalition. Your leadership in protecting international legal order through sanctions against a terrorist state – cannot be questioned. And we have to steadily continue along this way until Russia is deprived of any possibility to finance the war.

Most importantly, together with the G7 we brought about a coalition of values. A coalition that protects the rule-based world order and human rights.

A coalition that will work in such a way, that over time there will simply be no gray areas in the world in which human life does not matter.

In order for it to be so, there must be justice. Anyone who invests in terror must be held accountable. Anyone who invests in violence must compensate those who have suffered from terror, aggression or other forms of state violence.

Our proposals for the creation of a Special Tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine and a Special Compensation Mechanism, which will compensate war losses at the expense of Russian assets, are based on such principles.

Justice is one of the ten elements of the Peace Formula proposed by Ukraine and supported by Britain. I thank you for your readiness to invoke the Formula!

As I already mentioned, Ukrainian soldiers are being trained in Britain. In particular, to operate “Challengers”, your main battle tanks. It’s a tank coalition in action, and I thank you, Rishi, for this powerful defensive step – for tank assistance.

The coalition of long-range missiles is the latest of all. It will allow us to make the evil completely retreat from our country by destroying its hideaways deep in the occupied territories.

And it’s not just about weapons. We proved together that the world truly helps those who are brave in defending freedom. And thus, paves the way for a new history. A history of a world that knows how to be quick in help. Who knows how to be effective in defense. Who knows how to remain principled in dark hours. Who implements its treaties and arrangements in good faith. Who does not allow perpetrators to enjoy impunity. Who knows how to overcome veto when it is abused. Who knows no fear. And who knows how to win.

This shall be the new reality of the free world! I’m sure of that.

However, evil is still around today and the battle continues. Yes, we know how it is going to end and how we are going to feel on the day victory comes.

Everyday we continue to pay with lives, pain and tears for bringing the victory closer. With the lives of our heroes, whom we lose in battles. With the lives of our heroes who take life and death risks every day to save as many of our soldiers and civilians as possible.

Today, I will have the honor to be received by His Majesty the King. It will be a truly special moment for me. In particular, because I will convey to him from all the Ukrainians the words of gratitude for the support His Majesty showed to them when he was still the Prince of Wales.

I also intend to tell him something that is very important not only for the future of Ukraine but also for the future of Europe. In Britain, the King is an air force pilot. And in Ukraine today, every air force pilot is the king for us, for our families.

Because they are so few, they are so precious that we, the servants of our kings, do everything possible and impossible to make the world provide us with modern planes to empower and protect pilots who will be protecting us.

I am proud of our air force. And I brought a present from them to you, Great Britain. Open, please. I will explain. It’s the helmet of a real Ukrainian pilot. He is one of our most successful aces. He is one of our kings. And the writing on the helmet reads: “We have freedom. Give us wings to protect it.”

I trust this symbol will help us form our next coalition – coalition of the planes.

I appeal to you and the world with simple and yet most important words: Combat aircrafts – for Ukraine! Wings – for freedom!

Great Britain!

You and us both struggle for peace, but instead we are forced to face the rage that seeks to deprive us of peace and everything else that is valuable in life.

Unfortunately, it is in human nature to allow evil mature. It then stands up against humanity. It then destroys and kills. It launches aggressions and breaks people’s lives.

You and us have already fought together against such evil. You and us already have the experience of defeating the evil that is generated by human nature.

I am not saying there will be no more wars after this war ends. It is impossible to completely erase evil from human nature. Yet, it is in our power to guarantee with words and deeds that the light side of human nature will prevail. The side you and us share. And this stands above anything else.

Thank you for your attention! Thank you for your support!

Leaving the British Parliament two years ago, I thanked you for delicious English tea. I will be leaving the parliament today thanking all of you in advance – for powerful English planes.

By the way, it’s almost five o’clock.

God bless Great Britain and long live the King!

Слава Україні!

February 8, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Regulators urge safe giving to support Turkey-Syria earthquake relief effort [February 2023]
The press release issued by the Charity Commission on 8 February 2023.

Regulators urge public to ‘give safely’ when looking to support international aid efforts in response to earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

As many people across Britain look to support international aid efforts in response to earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Fundraising Regulator are urging the public to ‘give safely’.

This comes as the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launches a Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal. The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently in times of crisis overseas.

Launched today (Wednesday 8th February), the Appeal aims to secure urgent funding and support for people across Turkey and Syria who need immediate help to survive after disastrous earthquakes have had widespread impact across both countries since the 6th February 2023.

Both regulators are reminding people to check charities are registered and legitimate as people make generous donations to causes helping to support people affected by the earthquakes.

DEC members and other registered charities are providing vital life-saving aid like food, water and healthcare to those affected. Many are also supplying cold weather kits to help people stay warm. By supporting registered charities, including through the DEC, the public can be assured that their donations will be regulated and accounted for in line with charity law.

Helen Stephenson, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission said:

The impacts of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are shocking and devastating. Charities are once again stepping in to support those in need. I know that so many people across the UK will want to contribute and so I want to ensure every donation reaches its intended cause. This is why we are reminding everyone to give through the DEC or follow our simple steps, such as checking our online register, to make sure they’re giving safely.

Gerald Oppenheim, Chief Executive of the Fundraising Regulator said:

The situation following the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria is horrifying to witness, and thousands have lost their lives or have been injured.

The British public are generous and will be eager to support the relief work led by the DEC and its member charities where they can. Please carry out our recommended checks before donating money or goods to make sure you are giving to a genuine cause and that your generously donated money reaches its intended destination.

Established charities with experience of responding to disasters are usually best placed to reach people on the ground. Giving financial aid through humanitarian aid organisations, rather than sending donated goods directly to regions, is also often more practical and sustainable.

While most fundraising is genuine, the Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator warn that fraudsters and criminals can take advantage of public generosity at times of increased giving. This includes using various methods such as fake appeal websites, email appeals that falsely use the name of genuine charities, or appeals from groups claiming to be charities.

The regulators therefore encourage people to ensure they support genuine relief efforts by following a few simple steps before giving:
- check the charity’s name and registration number on the Charity Register at www.gov.uk/checkcharity – most charities with an annual income of £5,000 or more must be registered.
- make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information.
- be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within them.
- contact or find out more online about the charity that you’re seeking to donate to or work with to understand how they are spending their funds
- look out for the Fundraising Badge – the logo that says ‘registered with Fundraising Regulator’ – and check the Fundraising Regulator’s Directory of organisations which have committed to fundraise in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice.
In 2021, 307 registered charities reported working in Turkey and/or Syria, spending over £220 million on charitable activity.

After making these checks:
- If you think that a collection or appeal is not legitimate, report it to the police. If you think the collection is fraudulent report it to Action Fraud over the phone at 0300 123 2040 or online.
- If you think a collector does not have a licence – report it to the relevant Local Authority Licensing Team or the Metropolitan Police (if in Greater London). Also let the charity know if you can.
Members of the public initiating their own informal fundraising appeals that are not linked to established registered charities should be aware of the ongoing responsibilities associated with overseeing and managing funds and ensuring they are applied in line with donors’ wishes.

You can also complain about a charity to the Charity Commission if you have concerns about a charity’s governance and the Fundraising Regulator if you have concerns about its fundraising.
February 8, 2023