Gloucestershire MPs condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russian forces launched a major assault on the country, firing missiles on cities and military bases yesterday.

The invasion by land, air and sea began after a TV address where Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine’s military lay down its arms.

In Gloucestershire, MPs say they are appalled by the unjustified and unprovoked attack.

Gloucester MP Richard Graham said Vladimir Putin was the only person to blame for the conflict.

He said: “This would not happen if Russia were a functioning democracy.”

Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk echoed this sentiment and said Cheltonians stand with the people of Ukraine against the attack.

He also thanked those working in the intelligence services such as GCHQ whose expertise will be called upon.

He said: “We condemn it in the strongest possible terms. We have no quarrel with the Russian people, but with the Russian leadership – a leadership which just days ago lied to the world saying it had no plans to invade, and thinks nothing of authorising assassinations on British soil.”

Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie said she was extremely concerned and angry that Russia has taken such a reckless course of action.

She said it was extremely important for the West to support Ukraine and try to de escalate the conflict.

“I am sure that almost everyone in Stroud, the Valleys and Vale shares the same emotions,” she said.

“A democracy has been attacked for no reason and civilians are being killed.

“My heart goes out to all Ukrainians who must be suffering unimaginable terror as their country is under threat of being torn apart once again.

“President Putin has made Russia advance into Ukraine and he may even subjugate it but it will be Russia that is poorer over time as sanctions bite. Few will be willing to support the country or do business with it.

“The key now is for the Western allies, backed by NATO, to work quickly and in unison to try and de-escalate what is happening while being firm in its support for Ukraine.

“The UK Government has been robust thus far and now we must see a ramping up of the size and scale of sanctions, while keeping the British public informed.

“Dictators and aggressors have never prospered for any length of time. As the Prime Minister said yesterday it is important that nobody takes this out on innocent Russians living here in the UK while we stand with the Ukrainian people. In so many ways, their fate is our fate.”

And Cotswolds MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said Putin’s actions would bring economic and physical hardship on his own people and the rest of the world.

He denounced Mr Putin’s actions as completely illegal under international law.

Sir Clifton-Brown said Russia was using military aggression on a sovereign, democratic nation, playing 19th-century grand empire politics in the 21st-century world when we have far more sophisticated ways to carry out international relations.

“We need to supply and continue to re-supply Ukraine forces with the equipment they need to defend themselves for as long as necessary.

“We need hard economic sanctions in line with our Western allies, to target the vast personal wealth of Putin and his allies.

“Individuals and businesses will be hit, but I believe harsh sanctions now will have the greatest impact.

“We must go further, I have called for emergency legislation to go through Parliament to deal with sovereign debt and the dollar exchange.

“We should immediately put a stop to certain Russian bank transactions, suspending the SWIFT payment system.

“We are here for our Ukrainian friends, and we must continue to keep in communication with President Zelensky, who has acted admirably and calmly led his nation so far in this crisis.”