Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 February 2025.

His Majesty King Charles III has approved the award of an honorary BEM (British Empire Medal) to Mr Itsushi Tachi for services to people-to-people relations between the UK and Japan.

Mr Tachi was a recipient of a Chevening scholarship which allowed him to complete an MSc in Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the 1980s. Three decades later, he and five other Japanese Chevening alumni decided to form a Chevening alumni association in Japan. Mr Tachi led the preparatory work, and liaison with alumni and the British Embassy, becoming the founding President of the Japan Chevening Alumni Network (JCAN).

Since its foundation in 2016, JCAN has undergone a dramatic expansion in membership, activities and profile, helping to enhance connections between the UK Government and its Chevening alumni, and creating a lasting legacy of people-to-people ties between the UK and Japan.

Footnote:

The Chevening Scholarship is an international scholarship, funded by the FCDO and partner organizations, that enables foreign students to study a Masters degree at universities in the United Kingdom. More information can be found on https://www.chevening.org/

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 February 2025.

The Foreign and Defence Secretaries have written a joint Op-Ed in the Daily Telegraph on how to reach a strong and durable peace in Ukraine.

For 20 years, Vladimir Putin has been repeating the mistakes of Russia’s past: by seeking to recreate the Russian empire and suffocate the countries around its borders.

Too often in the past, the West has let him. We did too little in 2008, when he invaded Georgia, and in 2014, when he first went into Ukraine.

When he launched his full-scale attack almost three years ago, he thought it would be more of the same. Putin believed that he would win his war in three days. Yet the Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and the support of their friends.

Putin only responds to strength. Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have both spoken of their desire to achieve “peace through strength”. And the support we give to Ukraine provides the strength to achieve that peace. Ukraine, Britain, Europe and the US all agree.

In Brussels this week, at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group – which we as the UK chaired for the first time – Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, confirmed that, like us, the US wants to see a sovereign, prosperous Ukraine.

Like us, the US wants a lasting peace, after almost three years of war.

Like us, the US recognises the failure of Minsk agreements, deals made from a position of division and weakness.

At the Munich Security Conference this weekend, our message to our allies is the need for us all to continue to unite and show strength.

The Prime Minister has signed a 100-year partnership with Ukraine – a testament to our long-term commitment and confidence in the country’s future. Including the new loans we are giving, which will be repaid using the windfall profits from frozen Russian assets, our support extends to £15 billion.

And we are going farther still: this week, we announced an additional £150 million military package, part of the record £4.5 billion in support we are providing this coming year.

A year on from the death of Alexei Navalny, we are also putting new sanctions on Putin’s inner circle, adding to 2,000 sanctions Britain has already put on Russia.

From opposition and in government, we have been clear that Europe and the UK must do more together to share the burden of our continent’s security.

We were clear we need our friends in Europe to invest more in defence and seize the opportunities of closer UK-EU cooperation.

This has already begun. Europe is united on the need to step up. We are – and we will.

Europe has now committed almost two thirds of all aid to Ukraine, and well over half the military aid. In 2021, the UK and US were two of only six allies meeting Nato’s 2 per cent defence spending target. That number is now 23.

And we all need to turn up the pressure on Russia. Putin’s economy is struggling. Last year, the Kremlin spent more on military aid than social welfare for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Sanctions on energy are a particular priority: the UK has sanctioned more than 100 ships, as well as Gazprom Neft and PJSC Surgutneftegas, two of Russia’s big four oil companies.

While Russia is weakened, it remains undeniably dangerous. Just this weekend, our Royal Navy will track Russian warships passing close to British waters. These ships are retreating from Syria after Putin abandoned his ally Bashar al-Assad, yet they remain armed and full of ammunition. We will be watching their every move.

Ultimately, we need a strong peace. A durable peace. A peace that allows Ukrainians a secure future and deters any future Russian aggression. That is why there must be no talks about Ukraine without Ukraine, and we must give Mr Zelensky the strongest possible hand in those talks.

A bad peace would not only harm our security, but our economies, too: Putin’s 2022 invasion took 1.5 per cent off global GDP and added 3 per cent to European inflation. China, Iran and North Korea are all watching.

A durable peace must be based on new security arrangements: Europe doubling down to do more on our own continent’s security; a continuing, long-term US commitment to its allies through Nato; and British support to the US and allies in the Indo-Pacific – such as through the Aukus security partnership. That is the way to make us all stronger.

On Feb 24, we will mark a grim milestone – three years since Putin’s full-scale invasion. Yet despite all the challenges, Ukrainians are showing astonishing tenacity. Now is the time to turn up the pressure on the Kremlin. With strength and unity, we will prevail.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 February 2025.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

I will make three points.

First, the UK strongly condemns the tragic death of a World Food Programme staff member while in Houthi detention and we extend our condolences to their family and colleagues.

We also condemn the recent further detentions of aid workers by the Houthis and we reiterate our clear call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained.

These detentions are shrinking the humanitarian operating environment at a time when we continue to see an alarming deterioration in the humanitarian situation.

We call for an end to the Houthis’ use of fear, intimidation and unjustified detention so that aid workers are able to perform their work supporting almost 20 million Yemenis in need of humanitarian assistance.

Second, we welcome the release of the crew of the Galaxy Leader and thank the Sultanate of Oman for their efforts.

While we note the pause in maritime attacks, we must see a permanent end to these attacks to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

As ever, we thank UN Special Envoy Grundberg for his engagement with the parties and his efforts towards peace and long term stability in Yemen.

Finally, President, the UK reiterates our support to the Government of Yemen in delivering governance and providing for its citizens.

This was underlined during our event in New York last month with Prime Minister bin Mubarak. The UK stood alongside 23 other Member States in calling for international and regional support for the Government to strengthen its institutional capacity and help deliver its vision for reform to improve the lives of millions of Yemenis.

The UK and the Government of Yemen will continue to build on this progress together in the months to come.

This is the best way we can support a more secure, stable and prosperous future for all Yemenis.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 February 2025.

UK Military Advisor, Lt Col Joby Rimmer, says nobody desires peace more than Ukraine, yet peace must be just and sustainable. It is our responsibility to ensure that they do not stand alone.

Thank you, Mr Chair. As we approach the fourth year of Russia’s illegal war of aggression, Ukraine’s resilience remains nothing short of extraordinary. Despite immense challenges, Ukraine continues to demonstrate an unbreakable spirit and an unyielding commitment to its sovereignty, freedom, and the rules-based international order.

Last week at the FSC, the Russian Delegation stated that they owned ‘the strategic initiative along the entire line of contact’. But Ukrainian forces continue to hold their ground, not only defending their homeland but also reclaiming and securing additional territory, including in Kursk. Russian open sources report the Russian VDV 11th Airborne brigade commander has been relieved of duty following his failure to stop this recent Ukrainian counterattack. DPRK Troops deployed to the frontlines in December 2024, were withdrawn from their positions to recuperate following heavy losses. As of mid-January 2025, DPRK forces had highly likely sustained c4,000 casualties, more than one third of the 11,000 troops deployed to Kursk. Far from maintaining the ‘strategic initiative’, Russia has to resort to recklessly deploying DPRK troops to the front line, showing a complete disregard for human life, whilst not even officially acknowledging their presence on the battlefield.

There is no evidence of a Russian willingness to compromise. Russia spoke of being ‘open to reasonable initiatives to achieve a peaceful resolution’. But when examining the options available, Moscow has chosen a path of aggression, regardless of the catastrophic loss of life on both sides. There is no sense of reason. This is not a ‘special military operation’. It is a full-scale invasion and occupation attempt, a blatant violation of international law, and a direct challenge to global stability.

No one desires peace more than Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have suffered relentless bombardment and forced displacement, and we see the UN reports of war crimes committed by Russian forces. Yet peace must be just and sustainable. A truly just and lasting peace means one that respects the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. Ukraine cannot be expected to surrender its sovereignty or accept a dictated settlement that rewards Russian aggression. The Russian delegation in this forum said there will be no ‘freeze along the line of contact’. We would agree. Russia must withdraw from all of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. Any peace that fails to hold Russia accountable will only invite further aggression – not just against Ukraine, but against other nations that dare to assert their independence.

President Putin’s war is built on a demand for total submission through violence. No sovereign nation could or should, accept such terms. The international community has a moral and strategic obligation to stand with Ukraine. Our commitment to Ukraine remains absolute. We will continue to confront Russian aggression through military, economic, and diplomatic means. We will hold President Putin and his regime accountable for their war crimes. We will ensure that Ukraine has the resources necessary to defend itself for as long as it takes. Ukraine’s courage and determination have already defied expectations. It is our responsibility to ensure that they do not stand alone. Thank you, Mr Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 February 2025.

Ambassador Holland recalls Russia’s deceit at the OSCE in the weeks leading up to their full-scale invasion of Ukraine and reiterates that UK will support Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Thank you, Mister Chair.  In just over a week, we will reach yet another unwelcome milestone: three years since Russia launched its illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of its sovereign neighbour, Ukraine.

A war that Russia believed would be over in three days will enter a fourth year.  A war Russia launched under the false pretext of protecting Ukrainian civilians has instead caused thousands of them to be killed.  A war which we were told would not happen has, since those denials, violated every principle of the Helsinki Final Act and demonstrated contempt for the rules that govern armed conflict.

Let us recall, using their own language,  what Russia told us in the days and weeks leading up to their full-scale invasion.  On the 20th of January, we were told that “the myth of Russia’s alleged impending” invasion had been “hyped up.”  On the 3rd of February we were told that the speculation of an invasion was “unsubstantiated conjectures”.  This was an “information campaign being whipped up primarily by the United States and the United Kingdom”.  On the 10th of February, apparently the facts showed that these were “scare stories” and nothing more than “a puff of propaganda and idle talk”.

We all know what happened on the 24th of February.  The records of our meetings offer incontrovertible evidence of Russia’s disinformation and deceit.  It continues to this day, week in and week out.

Mister Chair, on that note we have recently heard Russia single-out on multiple occasions the UK’s role in providing military support to Ukraine.   The UK makes no secret of our unbreakable support for Ukraine.  We have agreed a new 100-year partnership with Ukraine.  We are proud to have committed to providing £3 billion of military aid to Ukraine every year for as long as is needed.  I want to be clear, though – this is not about fuelling war but supporting an innocent, sovereign and independent State in an ongoing defence against a barbaric onslaught that Russia assured us would never happen.

We have always said that we will support Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace.  Our priority remains to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to achieve this.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 February 2025.

This joint statement was released following the meeting between UK Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband and India’s Minister of Power, Manohar Lal.

The Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue, co-chaired by Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Power, India and Mr Ed Miliband, Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero for United Kingdom, was held in, New Delhi on Monday 10th February, 2025.

The dialogue focused on reviewing progress made in the energy sectors of both nations, including power and renewable energy, and reaffirming the commitment to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future. including across the breadth of sectors represented. They expressed satisfaction over the progress made to support green and sustainable growth, alongside accelerating the clean energy transition and ensuring energy security. The Ministers underscored the importance of ensuring that the energy transition and economic growth proceed together, while maintaining affordable and clean energy access for all.

The Ministers underscored the importance of ensuring energy security and sustainable development and emphasised expanding the cooperation in the areas of power distribution, sector reforms, industrial energy efficiency and de-carbonisation, and electric mobility while exploring new opportunities in the emerging fields such as energy storage, green data centres, and offshore wind, with an increased focus on MSMEs.

The Ministers were pleased to announce the launch of Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power & Renewable Energy in India programme. This phase will aim to provide technical support for ensuring round the clock power supply, expanding renewable energy initiatives, and accelerating industrial energy efficiency and de-carbonisation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Power (MOP) and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The Ministers were pleased to observe the bilateral collaboration between the two sides to promote growth and jobs, through technical assistance cooperation and investment. They also discussed the progress of trade missions focusing on offshore wind and green hydrogen, as well as the cooperation between the UK’s Energy Systems Catapult and India’s Power Trading Corporation.

Recognising the shared ambition for advancing offshore wind development, the Ministers announced the establishment of a UK-India Offshore Wind Taskforce, which will focus on advancing offshore wind ecosystem development, supply chains, and financing models in both countries. Mr Miliband commended India’s ambitious initiatives in the renewable energy sector and shown a strong interest in gaining insights from India’s experience in implementing the Solar Rooftop Programme (PM – Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna).

The Ministers agreed on the importance of power market regulations in driving the energy transition and ensuring greater energy security and access. To support this, they announced the continuation of the Power Sector Reforms programme under the UK Partnering for Accelerating Climate Change (UKPACT). Additionally, a new taskforce has been proposed between the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets and India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission to support renewable energy integration and grid transformation in India.

Both Ministers emphasised the ongoing value of the India-UK Energy Dialogue in advancing mutual energy transition goals, ensuring energy access, and building secure and sustainable clean energy supply chains while aligning these efforts with economic growth.

The Ministers expressed their intention to further strengthen their collaboration through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and looked forward to the fifth UK-India Energy Dialogue in 2026. The dialogue concluded with the launch of the ‘Best Practices Compendium of Industrial Energy Efficiency/Decarbonisation’ and a ‘Pathways for Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation in the Indian Aluminium Sector’.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 February 2025.

Joint Statement by Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the European External Action Service and the European Commission.

12 February 2025, Paris.

We are ready to enhance our support for Ukraine. We commit to its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s war of aggression.

We share the goal to keep supporting Ukraine until a just, comprehensive and lasting peace is reached. A peace that guarantees the interest of Ukraine and our own.

We are looking forward to discussing the way ahead together with our American allies. Our shared objectives should be to put Ukraine in a position of strength. Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations. Ukraine should be provided with strong security guarantees. A just and lasting peace in Ukraine is a necessary condition for a strong transatlantic security.

We recall that the security of the European continent is our common responsibility. We are therefore working together to strengthen our collective defence capabilities.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 February 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

I will make three points today.

First, a little over two months have passed since the interim authorities took control of Damascus, offering hope for a brighter future and a more peaceful future for the Syrian people.

We are encouraged by efforts made in the weeks since and we welcome the interim authorities’ pledges to form an inclusive transitional government, leading to free and fair elections.

We welcome the engagement between the Special Envoy, his office and the interim authorities and his plans to return to Damascus shortly.

As the Special Envoy has said, Syria’s political transition cannot afford to fail.

As Syrians take the next steps towards a political process, we expect to see appointments to the transitional government and the recently announced Legislative Council and the Preparatory Committee which represent the diversity of Syrian society.

We hope there will be a clear process and timeline for this next phase of the transition, which respects the rights and safety of all Syrians.

Second, we have been clear, as others have too, that Syrians should chart their own future and that a political process should be Syrian-owned and Syrian-led.

However, as Special Envoy Pederson and ASG Msuya both reminded us, it is essential that the international community step in and support as the challenges are vast and humanitarian needs acute.

It is imperative that the UN, alongside the international community, plays a vital role in supporting Syrians to stabilise and then rebuild their country.

The deep scars and the damage of over a decade of conflict cannot be healed in a matter of months.

Last week the UK, working with the World Food Programme, committed over $3.7 million to the ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative which will enable Ukraine to support the most vulnerable Syrians and alleviate suffering.

So we endorse the Special Envoy’s call that we must also take this opportunity to scale up early recovery and sustainable programming to enable Syrians to feed themselves, to keep the lights on, to create jobs and build a better future.

Finally, we welcome the visit to Damascus of the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on 8 February.

This marks a positive step forward.

We must use this window of opportunity and the work to support the OPCW and Syria to declare and destroy Assad’s remaining chemical weapons programme, for a more stable and secure Syria.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 February 2025.

UK Statement at Bolivia’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Delivered on 21 January 2025.

Thank you, Mr President,

The United Kingdom thanks the Bolivian delegation for setting out its efforts to protect human rights and welcomes progress by Bolivia since its last review in 2019. We look forward to Bolivia developing further improvements in key areas.

We recommend that Bolivia:

1. Increase oversight and scrutiny as part of a wider plan to ensure the independence, impartiality and integrity of the Bolivian judiciary, in the next five years.
2. Strengthen and develop the training and capacity building of law enforcement and the judiciary, to enable the implementation of those laws designed to protect women and girls from violence and exploitation.
3. Takes steps to ensure greater legal and practical protection for journalists to enable them to fulfil their roles free from legal, political and economic pressure or harassment.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 February 2025.

A key Russian cybercrime syndicate responsible for aiding merciless ransomware attacks around the world has been targeted by new UK sanctions.

• UK sanctions target Russian cyber entity, ZSERVERS responsible for facilitating crippling ransomware attacks globally
• targets also include 6 ZSERVERS members who are part of a prolific cybercrime supply chain, and their UK front company XHOST
• action on illicit Russian cybercrime syndicate is latest step to strengthen UK national security

Fresh sanctions are targeting ZSERVERS, a key component of the Russian cybercrime supply chain, and 6 of its members, as well as its UK front company, XHOST Internet Solutions LP. ZSERVERS provide vital infrastructure for cybercriminals as they plan and execute attacks against the UK.

The illicit supply chain protects, supports and conceals the operations of some of the world’s most ruthless ransomware gangs. Ransomware actors rely on these services to launch attacks, extort victims and store stolen data.

In the modern digital-first economy, cyber security is a non-negotiable cornerstone of business success. A secure digital economy is a less attractive target for cybercriminals and a more attractive home for investment, generating jobs and putting more money into hardworking people’s pockets, delivering on this government’s Plan for Change.

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:

Putin has built a corrupt mafia state driven by greed and ruthlessness. It is no surprise that the most unscrupulous extortionists and cyber-criminals run rampant from within his borders.

This government will continue to work with partners to constrain the Kremlin and the impact of Russia’s lawless cyber underworld. We must counter their actions at every opportunity to safeguard the UK’s national security and deliver on our Plan for Change.

Predatory ransomware groups pose a clear and persistent threat to national security, public services and privacy. These attacks threaten critical national infrastructure, disrupt essential services, compromise sensitive data and generated $1 billion from their victims globally in 2023 alone.

Minister of State for Security, Dan Jarvis, said:

Ransomware attacks by Russian affiliated cybercrime gangs are some of the most harmful cyber threats we face today and the government is tackling them head on. Denying cybercriminals the tools of their trade weakens their capacity to do serious harm to the UK.

We have already announced new world-first proposals to deter ransomware attacks and destroy their business model.  With these targeted sanctions and the full weight of our law enforcement, we are countering the threats we face to protect our national security, a foundation of our Plan for Change, and our economy.

ZSERVERS explicitly advertise themselves to illicit actors as a Bulletproof Hosting (BPH) Provider. Some BPH are known to host hackers, misinformation, child exploitation material, spam and hate speech. BPH providers like ZSERVERS, protect and enable cybercriminals, offering a range of purchasable tools which mask their locations, identities, and activities. Targeting these providers can disrupt hundreds or thousands of criminals simultaneously.

Today’s action is the latest in a series of coordinated steps alongside US and Australian partners, and comes off the back of recent sanctions against notorious ransomware groups LockBit and Evil Corp.

LockBit affiliates are known to have used ZSERVERS as a launch pad for targeting the UK, enabling ransomware attacks against various targets, including the non-profit sector.

Protecting the nation from threats both physical and digital sits at the foundation of the government’s Plan for Change. That is why we are moving through the entire ransomware pipeline step by step, cracking down on Russian cybercriminals that threaten the UK’s security, integrity, and prosperity.

Background

The full list of those sanctioned today:

• ZSERVERS
• XHOST Internet Solutions LP
• Aleksandr Bolshakov (employee)
• Aleksandr Mishin (employee)
• Ilya Sidorov (employee)
• Dmitriy Bolshakov (employee)
• Igor Odintsov (employee)
• Vladimir Ananev (employee)