Statement from Duncan Smith on the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine
Marking the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Duncan Smith said three years on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, lasting peace seems further away than before.
Deputy Smith said:
“Despite the talks of peace in recent weeks, it seems like we are in a more insecure place than ever before. Trump has effectively welcomed Putin in out of the cold in recent weeks. The damage that this will have done to achieving peace is immeasurable.
“The people of Ukraine must be assured that any peace negotiations are taking place through the multilateral framework of the UN. It is crucial that Europe, the United States and Russia agree to achieving peace through the UN.
“Worryingly, none of this seems to be on the table at the moment. Three years on from the invasion of Ukraine, it feels like we’re in a more insecure international world than before.
“For any peace to be sustainable, Russia must in the first instance withdraw the pre-invasion borders and return to Ukraine the territory that they have taken. Again, this does not seem likely under American-led so-called peace negotiations.
“Peace can and must be achieved for the people of Ukraine. The international frameworks that are in place are the best way of reaching that goal.”