Tag: 2023

PRESS RELEASE : Thérèse Coffey – Farmers central to food production and environmental action [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 January 2023.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has today (Thursday 26 January 2023) set out detailed plans for the nation’s farming sector, supporting farmers to be profitable and resilient as they produce food sustainably while protecting nature and enhancing the environment.

The accelerated roll out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive – a key part of the Government’s Environmental Land Management schemes – will provide farmers with a diverse range of paid actions to manage hedgerows for wildlife, plant nectar-rich wildflowers and manage crop pests without the use of insecticides.

These incentives will make food production more resilient and efficient over the longer term whilst contributing towards the UK’s environmental goals on carbon, biodiversity, water quality and net zero. Together this will safeguard the long-term prosperity of the farming industry and protect the environment for future generations.

Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

Farmers are at the heart of our economy – producing the food on our tables as well as being the custodians of the land it comes from.

These two roles go hand-in-hand and we are speeding up the roll out of our farming schemes so that everyone can be financially supported as they protect the planet while producing food more sustainably.

Environmental Land Management

Six additional standards will be added to the Sustainable Farming Incentive this year, meaning farmers can receive payment for actions on hedgerows, grassland, arable and horticultural land, pest management and nutrient management. They build on the three existing standards to improve soil health and moorlands introduced in 2022 – which nearly 1,900 farmers already have in agreements.

The Government has also detailed what farmers will be paid to deliver through an enhanced version of the Countryside Stewardship scheme, which will see around 30 additional actions available to farmers by the end of 2024. The expansion builds on the more than 250 actions farmers can take at present with the scheme seeing a 94% increase in uptake since 2020 and is now part of thousands of farm businesses. The next round of Countryside Stewardship Higher-Tier will open in February, with Mid-Tier following in March.

Countryside Stewardship Plus will reward farmers for taking coordinated action, working with neighbouring farms and landowners to support climate and nature aims. It will deliver the same high environmental ambition previously planned for Local Nature Recovery, including managing floodplain meadows to reduce flood risk and improve biodiversity, restoring and maintaining peatland for carbon capture and storage, and enhancing and managing woodland to mitigate against drought and enhance its resilience to climate change.

The scheme will also be improved so farmers benefit from greater flexibility over when they can apply and how they manage their agreements, with improved access for tenant farmers and increased access to Higher Tier options and agreements.

Elsewhere, following high demand last year, Defra has confirmed it will open applications for the second round of the Landscape Recovery scheme in the spring to support ambitious large-scale nature recovery projects, focusing on net zero, protected sites and habitat creation. This could include projects creating and enhancing woodlands, peatland, nature reserves and protected sites such as ancient woodlands, wetlands and salt marshes.

They involve groups of land managers and tenant farmers, working together to deliver a range of environmental benefits across farmed and rural landscapes. 22 projects began last year aiming to restore nearly 700km of rivers and protect and enhance 263 species.

Today’s announcement provides clarity and certainty to farmers, allowing them to make business decisions and cover costs as direct payments are phased out whilst getting involved in Environmental Land Management schemes. The plans also deliver on the assurances provided by the Farming Minister earlier this month, during a speech at the Oxford Farming Conference announcing increased payment rates.

Further details on the new standards and payment rates being rolled for the Sustainable Farming Incentive as well as information on the future roll out of Countryside Stewardship Plus from 2024 is available on gov.uk.

Straightforward applications

The Sustainable Farming Incentive has been made as straightforward as possible to apply online for with farmers giving positive feedback over the simplicity and speed of the application.

The 2023 offer has been made as flexible and accessible as possible to enable farmers to get started in the scheme and start to deliver the outcomes for their business and the environment. These improvements are based on learnings from extensive pilots and feedback to make it simpler, clearer and more workable for farmers.

Over time, it will continue to evolve so that it supports and incentivises farmers to deliver the right combinations of actions, at the right scale, in the right places and in a joined-up way with their neighbours. This will be essential for us to make the required progress towards our environment and climate targets alongside food production.

Harry Baker Cresswell, an agent working with two arable farmers from Northumberland, said:

I work with two holdings which are part of the SFI pilot, neither of which were in existing schemes.

The application and payment experiences have been good to date, and the objectives of SFI for arable land have been clearly set out.

SFI is different to previous Environmental Stewardships models in that the option-requirements are much less prescriptive. This is welcome, but does require a little steering to ensure objectives are met – something that Defra has recognised with its SFI Management Payment.

This is a real step forward in the journey towards enthusing widespread participation in the ELM schemes.

Kitty Hamilton, a mixed farmer from East Lincolnshire, said:

The big positive of the SFI pilot is the flexibility, which we really like. We were able to retain habitats from previous schemes which we were really proud of. The pilot fits well with our current and planned farming methods, which means it’s gently nudging us towards a more regenerative system.

The fact that we can layer the standards, and use all of the land on the estate, means that we can generate a good income. Generally I’ve enjoyed engaging with the learning activities, helping us to upskill professionally and personally within our organisation.

Robin Milton, a livestock farmer from Exmoor, said:

We’ve been on three standards to give the SFI pilot a trial run because we felt it would benefit our business.

The application process was straight-forward and, although the guidance was lengthy, I learned quite a bit and we ended up doing more than we needed to – which isn’t a bad thing.

Taken together the Environmental Land Management schemes mean there is something on offer for every type of farmer.

For tenant farmers there is range of actions relevant to their holding, especially through the Sustainable Farming Incentive which has been designed with them in mind. Shorter three-year agreements have been introduced with no landlord consent required meaning the risk of entering an environmental scheme has been reduced considerably. There are also no penalties in the event a farmer leaves the scheme early.

Upland farmers can be paid for actions on moorland, grassland and upland peat with over 100 actions in all schemes applicable to them.  From this year, farmers in existing Higher Level Stewardship agreements will be able to expand their activities and increase their payments by having a Countryside Stewardship agreement as well.

The 2019 manifesto commitment maintains the annual farming budget of £2.4 billion until the end of this Parliament, with all reductions from farmers’ direct payments reinvested back into the sector. All three Environmental Land Management schemes are accessible to farmers with the budget managed flexibly so that we can achieve the best value for money and deliver the intended outcomes in ways that best suit farmers and land managers.

January 26, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : British Embassy Washington Welcomes New Defence Attaché, Rear Admiral Tim Woods [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2023.

Rear Admiral Tim Woods has joined British Embassy Washington as its new Defence Attaché. He will lead the UK’s extensive military engagement and partnerships across all branches of the United States military.

Rear Admiral Woods joins the team in Washington from Kyiv, Ukraine where he was the British Defence Attaché – at the frontline of the UK’s support to the Ukrainian military. In Kyiv he also served as Head of the British Defence Staff in Eastern Europe, commanding all Defence Attaches across Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine at a defining moment in European security.

He brings more than three decades’ experience both on land and at sea. Previous roles have included active duty in Afghanistan, deployments to the Far East, submarine patrols, secondments to NATO, the UK Ministry of Defence and the National Security Secretariat.

Rear Admiral Woods joined the Royal Navy in 1988 after training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, south west England, and at sea. He is a graduate of the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies, where he was awarded the Wellington Prize for Strategic Analysis.

Commenting on the appointment, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America Dame Karen Pierce said:

I am delighted to welcome Rear Admiral Tim Woods to the British Embassy. The UK’s military-to-military links with the US form part of the bedrock of the Special Relationship and have protected our citizens for decades. Tim’s extensive experience in Ukraine, NATO and with US forces will be a huge asset at this critical time, as we work with the US to support Ukraine.

The Rear Admiral said he was relishing his new role at the heart of the UK-US defence relationship:

I have worked closely with our American colleagues throughout my military career and have seen the strength of the relationship – the UK’s most important single bilateral partnership – at first hand.

I am thrilled to have moved to such an exciting and welcoming country, and am looking forward to meeting US decision makers to ensure our hand-in-glove relationship remains very focussed on the range of pressing defence and security threats. I also look forward to travelling throughout the various states over the next three years, and seeing our defence collaboration in action across America.

Rear Admiral Woods takes over the role of UK Defence Attaché at the British Embassy from Air Vice-Marshal Mick Smeath who will become Director of the Global Defence Network, the head of UK Defence Attachés worldwide.

January 26, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : The UK urges the Sudanese authorities to enhance their cooperation with the International Criminal Court – UK Statement at the UN Security Council [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2023.

Statement by Chanaka Wickremasinghe, UK Legal Adviser, at the Security Council briefing by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Darfur.

President, I thank the Prosecutor for the thirty-sixth report on the Situation in Darfur, pursuant to Resolution 1593 and for his presentation today.

We welcome the swift progress made in the trial of Mr Abd-Al-Rahman as a historic step towards seeking accountability for survivors and affected communities in Darfur after many years. In this light, the UK would like to commend the ICC’s tireless commitment for more than 17 years to help deliver justice for the people of Darfur.

The trial of Mr Abd-Al-Rahman has enabled victims and witnesses to courageously tell their stories and to demonstrate to other victims that justice can be delivered. Such progress is an example of how strong cooperation with the ICC can translate into meaningful action.

It is therefore deeply disappointing that sufficient cooperation has been lacking from the Sudanese authorities, despite their reassurances to the Chief Prosecutor during his visits to Sudan.

Stronger engagement would demonstrate that the Sudanese authorities are serious about delivering their commitments on transitional justice, as outlined in the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement and the initial Framework Agreement signed 5th December 2022.

The UK urges the Sudanese authorities to immediately enhance their cooperation with the Court, in three areas in particular:
Firstly, we call on the Sudanese authorities to provide prompt access to Sudan, including unimpeded access to documentary archives and witnesses relevant to the Court’s investigations.

Secondly, a permanent presence is vital for the Office of the Prosecutor to deepen its engagement with affected communities. We therefore urge the Sudanese authorities to help facilitate the establishment of a field office in Khartoum, and to remove the unnecessary bureaucratic impediments preventing Court staff from being granted multiple-entry visas to Sudan and to give access to ICC staff to Darfur.

Thirdly, the UK calls on the Sudanese authorities to respond swiftly to the Court’s outstanding requests for assistance, noting that 34 requests currently remain outstanding, with no responses received in the current reporting period.
Finally, Mr President, we welcome and encourage the continuation of cooperation between the Court and third States, which has proved vital, particularly in the absence of sufficient cooperation from the Sudanese authorities.

The UK would like to reiterate our support to the Court in delivering justice for the people of Darfur. In this respect, we call for action to deliver on the four ICC warrants which remain outstanding in the Darfur situation, and we continue to call for the surrender of Mr Banda, who remains a fugitive from justice.

Thank you.

January 26, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister celebrates Scottish culture in Burns Night Downing Street reception [January 2023]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 January 2023.

Prime Minister celebrates Scottish culture and the integral contribution it makes to the fabric of the UK at Number 10 reception this evening.
- Prime Minister to celebrate Scottish culture and the integral contribution it makes to the fabric of the UK at Number 10 reception this evening
- Guests expected to enjoy haggis toasties, fresh fruit sodas and seeing Scottish businesses showcased whilst listening to Robert Burns’ poems
- Prime Minister will personally award Wheels to Heal founder Khalid Raza with a Points of Light Award for his community work
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to celebrate Scottish culture this evening by hosting a reception in Downing Street to celebrate Burns Night.

Guests, including faith group leaders, will be welcomed to the event with sounds of traditional bagpipes and drums, and will be able to enjoy Scottish cuisine from stalls in an indoor-street market.

Deeney’s famous haggis toasties and Rapscallion’s fresh fruit sodas are going to be on offer, and there will be a range of other businesses showcased as part of the event.

Deeney’s was set up by Carol and Paddy at a market in East London in the summer of 2012. Inspired by Carol’s Scottish roots, it has been a mainstay of London’s street food scene ever since, partly thanks to their famous ‘Macbeth’ haggis toastie, and they now have restaurants in both London and Tokyo.

Glasgow-based Rapscallion Soda was born in 2016 and has built a reputation for its inventive exotic flavours using raw ingredients, such as Burnt Lemon, Dry Lime and Rhubarb.

Those in attendance are also expected to be offered a dram of the Isle of Raasay Distillery’s finest. Founded in 2017, the Inner Hebrides island’s first legal distillery produces both whisky and gin in its contribution to Scotland’s drinks exports, worth £4.2. billion in total in 2021.

It is expected that the Prime Minister will also briefly chat to fashion designer Siobhan Mackenzie about her innovative work reinventing tartan classics such as kilts, tailoring and accessories into contemporary styles.

As is tradition, it is anticipated that Hugh McMillan, member of the Scottish Poetry Library, will recite Robert Burns’ A Man’s a Man for a’ That, as well as a selection of other poetry.

As part of the celebrations, the Prime Minister will take the opportunity to personally award Mr Khalid Raza, founder of the charity Wheels to Heal with a Points of Light award.

It will be the UK’s 1974th Points of Light award, recognising the outstanding contribution Mr Raza has made to both his own community and countless others across the world. After discovering 150 wheelchairs by chance in a landfill, Raza created Wheels to Heal – a volunteering network which gives people access to wheelchairs and mobility aids. Since its inception in 2015, the charity has funded and rescued 6,500 wheelchairs from landfill and 5,500 mobility aids from care homes, delivering them across the globe.
January 26, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak call with leaders of US, Germany, France and Italy [January 2023]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 January 2023.

The Prime Minister spoke to the leaders of the United States, Germany, France and Italy this afternoon.

The Prime Minister welcomed the decisions by allies to announce major battle tank contributions and updated on the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine, including his decision to donate a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks last week.

This decisive, collective action would be a catalyst for other countries to follow suit, the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister said it was now clear Russia was on the backfoot, and there was a window for international partners to accelerate efforts to secure lasting peace for Ukraine.

He called on allies to intensify their support in the coming weeks and months.

All the leaders welcomed the strong coordination of military supplies and reflected on the collective international action across the spectrum in support of Ukraine.

They also welcomed the continued humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine in the wake of ongoing indiscriminate and barbaric Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

January 26, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Our commitment to a sustainable solution to the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Syria – UK Statement at UN Security Council [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the Security Council briefing on Syria.

Let me start by again thanking Special Envoy Pedersen and OCHA Deputy Director Mudawi for their powerful briefings today.

I will highlight three points:

First, the United Kingdom welcomes the recent adoption of resolution 2672 to continue the delivery of life-saving aid to millions of Syrians in need. But let’s be clear – 6 months is not a sufficient timeline within which humanitarians can effectively operate and we heard that again today. The humanitarian community have consistently warned us that shorter mandate renewals force UN agencies and NGOs to direct much of their effort to contingency planning. That uncertainty limits their capacity to help those in need. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate with 15.3 million Syrians now in desperate need of humanitarian aid.

Second, with humanitarian needs growing each year, the Assad regime continues to profit from the production and trafficking of narcotics, most prominently captagon – which provides billions of dollars annually to the regime. Turning the country into a ‘narco-state’ harms the people of Syria and adds to regional instability. We urge partners in the international community to condemn this clearly and to continue supporting those affected by the captagon trade.

Third, we applaud Special Envoy Pedersen’s efforts to continue engagement with Damascus, as well as countries in the region and beyond.The UK stands ready to support a political process in line with resolution 2254. We must guard against any process that does not deliver on the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and which will not contribute to a lasting and sustainable peace.

We have heard from Russia that they were taking steps to renew the Constitutional Committee. But we have seen no progress. We urge Russia to stop stalling what ought to be a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process. It is time to move away from discussions of process for the Constitutional Committee and begin to tackle substance.

President, it has been seven years since this Council unanimously adopted resolution 2254. The principles set out in that resolution remain the only means for achieving a sustainable solution to the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Syria.

January 26, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Deputy Head of Mission conducts first official visit to Honduras [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2023.

Deputy Head of Mission, Paul Huggins, held a series of meetings with key stakeholders in the public and private sector at Tegucigalpa to continue strengthening economic and commercial relations between Honduras and the UK. Among the objectives were to understand the business environment and explore opportunities to share UK expertise, including the offer of British companies in priority sectors.

Deputy Head of Mission Huggins met with the Sub Secretary of Economic Integration and International Trade, Mr Melvin Redondo, to discuss Honduras’ economic and commercial plans for 2023 and the status of the implementation of the Association Agreement between Central America and the UK. In addition, he met with representatives from the Honduran Council of the Private Sector (COHEP) and UK companies operating in Honduras to understand their perceptions on the economy and business environment.

Regarding the opportunities to share UK expertise, the Deputy Head of Mission highlighted the benefits of the green economy, including the use of technology in agriculture and water treatment. For this purpose, he held meetings with the Secretary of Strategic Planning, Mr Ricardo Salgado, representatives from the Directorate of Agriculture, Science and Technology (DICTA), and Zamorano University.

Deputy Chief Huggins also explained the role of UK Export Finance (UKEF) – organization in charge to promote and facilitate UK exports around the world- at several meetings as to find opportunities of new commercial projects in Honduras. These included the Central American Economic Integration Bank (CABEI) and the Central Bank of Honduras. The Deputy Head of Mission stated that the UK wants to promote honest and reliable investment through trade using the benefits that UKEF provide to businesspersons.

Finally, the Deputy Head of Mission met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Director General of Foreign Policy, Maria Alejandra Zelaya and the Director of Economic and Trade Relations, Daniel Barahona. They discussed improved ways to take advantage of the UK-Central America Association Agreement, the critical need to tackle climate change and agreed on the importance of Honduras continue joining the international community in condemning the actions of Russia against Ukraine, which are increasing food prices around the world.

From July 2021 to June 2022, total trade between Honduras and the UK was more tan UDS220 million; an increase of 45.3% compared to the same period the year before. Honduran exports amounted USD170 million, while UK exports USD50 million. The main Honduran products exported to the UK were fish, crustaceans, coffee, textiles, fruits, vegetables and sugar; while the main UK products exported to Honduras were refined oil, electric motors, plastics, scientific instruments and textile fabrics.

January 26, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Extra 1,420 police join forces across England and Wales in 3 months [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 25 January 2023.

Latest figures show that there are more than 16,700 additional police officers in England and Wales since April 2020.

An extra 1,420 officers have joined police forces across England and Wales in the past 3 months, as the government continues its unprecedented drive to recruit 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023.

Figures released today (25 January) show that more than 16,700 additional police officers have joined the police since April 2020 as part of the government’s pledge to get more police officers on our streets.

Today’s figures mean that the government has met 84% of that target and is well on the way to recruiting 20,000 new officers by March.

The figures released today also show the number of police officers from an ethnic minority background is at an all-time high, as the government’s recruitment campaign works to change the face and culture of policing.

While there is more to do to ensure policing is representative of the communities it serves, there are 11,691 police officers who identify as being from an ethnic minority, more than ever before.

There are also now 51,107 female officers in our 43 police forces in England and Wales, which is also at its highest point.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said:

Improving confidence in our police forces means we must attract the brightest and the best to one of the toughest but most rewarding jobs in our country. I am delighted we are on track to deliver our bold promise to the British people of putting 20,000 additional officers on the streets.

This next generation of brave police officers will add to efforts to drive down invasive crimes like burglary and neighbourhood offences, return to common sense policing and make our communities feel safer and stronger.

New recruits are subject to a rigorous vetting and assessment process to assess suitability for the role of police officer, including testing against core behaviours and values.

Policing and Crime Minister Chris Philp said:

Policing is a career like no other and I am proud so many thousands of people in England and Wales want to put themselves forward to protect their communities from danger – in a challenging, essential and rewarding job.

In a matter of months, when this once-in-a-generation recruitment drive is complete and we have a record number of officers across England and Wales, our police forces will be more representative than ever of the communities they serve.

The overwhelming majority of new recruits recently surveyed report positive job satisfaction and want to remain officers for the rest of their working lives, and compared to other public sectors, voluntary resignations in policing remain low at 2.5%.

The rate of uplift growth varies by quarter with the June and December quarters traditionally slower. This is due to the way that forces plan recruitment to hit their annual targets.

Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Martin Hewitt said:

We are getting really close to achieving an additional 20,000 officers into policing nationwide and I am pleased to see great progress with this ambition from all forces.

All of our police forces are working hard to recruit new officers who meet nationally agreed College of Policing standards by the end of March and although we are nearly there, we know how important it is to continue to focus our efforts on making sure policing is as diverse and representative as the communities we serve.

Overall funding for policing will rise by up to £287 million in the next financial year (2023-24) compared to the 2022-23 funding settlement, bringing the total up to £17.2 billion for the policing system. In addition every police officer received a £1.9k uplift to their salary with effect from 1 September 2022, which equalled up to an 8.8% increase for those on the lowest pay points.

All recruits must meet the standards set by the College of Policing and the government has worked with chief constables and the college to modernise, standardise and increase resilience in the recruitment process to ensure forces are able to hire the additional officers to keep communities safe.

Anyone interested in applying to their local force can visit Join the Police to find out more.

January 26, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Update on changes to transgender prisoner policy framework [January 2023]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 25 January 2023.

On October 4 2022 the Justice Secretary announced plans to reform our policy on the allocation of transgender prisoners. Under the reforms, transgender women with male genitalia, or those who have been convicted of a sexual offence, should no longer be held in the general women’s estate.

This will create a strong presumption, but allow for exemptions to be considered by Ministers on a case-by-case basis – though only the most truly exceptional cases will be considered.

We will be publishing an updated policy framework shortly, which will set out the new guidance in detail and how it will be implemented by the Prison Service. The implementation of this new policy will take effect soon after we have published the revised framework.

The safety of all prisoners is paramount. These changes will ensure a sensitive and common-sense approach to meeting the needs of women in custody, while we continue to ensure that transgender prisoners are appropriately supported in whichever estate they are located in.

Question: Where are transgender prisoners currently placed?

The placement of transgender prisoners is subject to a thorough risk-assessment in every case. More than 90% of transgender women in prison are housed in men’s prisons, and most do not request a move to a women’s prison. There is no obligation to move transgender prisoners according to their wishes.

Transgender women without a Gender Recognition Certificate – i.e. who are not legally female – are initially sent to a male prison as a matter of course.

Question: What will happen as a result of these new changes?

As a result of the new policy, transgender women who are in future sentenced to custody and
- have male genitalia
OR
- who have been convicted of sexual offences
will not serve their sentences in the general women’s estate unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Question: Does that mean transgender women currently in the women’s estate will be moved into male prisons?

In relation to transgender women currently in the women’s estate, there will be a thorough assessment of individuals – both the risks to them and any risks they pose to others – before any move is considered. Transgender women who cannot be held safely in either the male or female estate can be held in a specialist unit.
January 26, 2023
PRESS RELEASE : Russia has chosen a path of depravity over humanity – UK statement to the OSCE [January 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2023.

Ian Stubbs (UK delegation) says Putin’s horrific war of choice has created a legacy for which millions will be forced to bear the cost of for years to come.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Over these past weeks, heavy and attritional fighting has continued, especially around the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut, and in the less reported-on sector of Kremina, in Luhansk. In the south, in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, both sides have massed significant forces, which have conducted artillery exchanges and skirmishes, but have avoided any large-scale offensive effort.

Frustrated by lack of progress, Putin has sought to reconsolidate his military power base. However, we continue to see evidence of tension between the military leadership and Wagner Head, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Despite these clear tensions, the Wagner Group has been increasingly relied upon to fill the void where the Russian military cannot. Wagner has become a key component of the Ukraine campaign. It now almost certainly commands up to 50,000 fighters in Ukraine. At least 40,000 of these appear to be convicts recruited from prisons and penal colonies – this means approximately one quarter of all Russian personnel serving in Ukraine are convicts recruited by Wagner. This is yet more evidence of President Putin and his military leadership scrambling to provide numbers in place of trained fighters and effective leadership.

Mr Chair, in the FSC exactly a year ago we discussed “Compliance with International Humanitarian Law and Protection of Civilians”. During that meeting, my Russian colleague stated that: “Humanity, including on the battlefield, is a hallmark of civilized behaviour by States.” For once, we agree.

However, Russia’s actions over the last year show that it has chosen a path of depravity over humanity. It has demonstrated complete disregard for International Humanitarian Law; it has unleashed horrendous violence, conducting heinous attacks impacting on civilians and civilian infrastructure; and it has demonstrated its willingness to sacrifice its own people in their thousands to try and overcome persistent and institutional poor decision making by the Kremlin. Putin’s horrific war of choice has created a legacy for which millions will be forced to bear the cost of for years to come.

Mr Chair, on 19 January the Defence Ministers of Estonia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania; and the representatives of Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Slovakia met to reaffirm our continued determination and resolve to supporting Ukraine in their heroic resistance against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression. At this meeting, we recognised that equipping Ukraine to push Russia out of Ukrainian territory is as important as equipping them to defend what they already have. The new level of combat power required by Ukraine is only achieved by combinations of main battle tank squadrons, beneath air and missile defence, operating alongside divisional artillery groups, and further deep precision fires enabling targeting of Russian logistics and command nodes in temporarily Russian controlled territory.

The United Kingdom’s accelerated package consists of a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks with armoured recovery and repair vehicles; AS90 self-propelled 155mm guns; hundreds more armoured and protected vehicles; a manoeuvre support package, including minefield breaching and bridging capabilities; dozens more un-crewed aerial systems to support Ukrainian artillery; another 100,000 artillery rounds; hundreds more sophisticated missiles including GMLRS rockets, Starstreak air defence missiles, and medium range air defence missiles; 600 Brimstone anti-tank munitions; an equipment support package of spares to refurbish up to a hundred Ukrainian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. The package is further augmented by continuing basic training and junior leadership training for the AFU in the UK with 9 International partners, with the aim of training around a further 20,000 AFU personnel in 2023.

Mr Chair, we do not underestimate the continuing threat posed by the Russian Federation but, in time, there will be cause for Ukraine to celebrate. Ukraine will continue to demonstrate their resolute courage, determination and enduring moral strength as they fight to liberate more of their homeland. Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence will be fully restored. Thank you.

January 26, 2023