Earlier this month I joined over a thousand people in Parliament to hear President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak with great force about the courage of his people in confronting the evil of conflict waged by Russia.

This week marks one year since Putin embarked on his full-frontal invasion of Ukraine. He had expected it would take only days before Ukraine capitulated. But Russian forces have faced formidable resistance and suffered a series of setbacks, having underestimated Ukrainian resolve to defend their nation.

He also underestimated the resolve of the UK and our allies in standing up to this aggression by applying economic sanctions on Russia, providing sanctuary to those fleeing the fighting, supplying humanitarian aid and military equipment to Ukraine.

In London President Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister signed a Declaration, further deepening cooperation between the UK and Ukraine. The UK agreed to expand training for Ukrainian Armed Forces, including for fighter pilots and marines.

The UK was the first country to commit to provide a squadron of tanks, with armoured recovery and repair vehicles, AS90 guns, a manoeuvre support package, including minefield breaching and bridging capabilities as well as dozens more uncrewed aerial systems to support artillery. This is a coherent package of land equipment which helped unlock similar commitments from allies and will help resist Russian offensives.

To be effective, Ukrainian forces need not just to be equipped, but also trained. So, the UK has for months been providing training, offering capacity for up to 10,000 soldiers every 120 days. 

But are also helping plan the reconstruction effort. We are hosting the next Ukraine Recovery Conference in London in June. This will focus on mobilising international and private sector support for the economic and social stabilisation of Ukraine.

Many people have welcomed Ukrainian families into their homes, including several whom I have met in South Shropshire. Others have helped organise fund raising and delivered clothing, supplies and generators to help people displaced by the war.

On Friday the Prime Minister will be leading the nation in holding a minute's silence at 11.00am, offering the public a chance to pay tribute to the courage of the Ukrainian people and demonstrate our unwavering support and solidarity.

I firmly believe the UK is right to support Ukraine in the multi-faceted way we are. We must stand up to the greatest aggression in Europe since the Second World War. As President Biden said this week, democracy will defeat autocracy, or as President Zelenskyy said in London: freedom will win.