"Prime Minister Keir Starmer recommits to £3 billion a year of military support for Ukraine until 2030/31 and for as long as needed"

Of course we do. But, equally, do you not understand the impact of NOT spending this money on the NHS? People need to look at the bigger picture...

Isn't that one of the reasons we've just had a change of government?

It's not our defence and I'm not saying spend more it's just very sad to see the constant pointing of finger's towards the disabled. And hearing first hand how upsetting and worrying it for them without acknowledgement of actually it isn't just this draining the economy aid is putting a dent in it also

@Kovus ,

‘£3bn is about 30 hours of UK tax revenue. That ignores local taxes - council tax and business rates. ‘

But that is close to 4 working days’ taxes to support Ukraine. Not sure it is quite that much, though. The problem is that 3 bio isn’t that much but would make some difference to schools or the NHS

‘Ukraine will only lose this war if the West withdraws its support. If the West withdraws its support, we confirm that fighting to keep democracy is not worthwhile. Then, we lose everything. ‘

But the UK is not The West. Compared to the U.S these days, we are insignificant, especially militarily. This attitude strikes me as harking back to WW2 and the era of empire when we were a Great Power and could shape the world.

Why do we need to pay more in percentage terms than the countries that actually border Ukraine? What is so exceptional about the UK?

‘For those who need to, wake up and smell the coffee. China now has troops in Belarus. China, Russia, NK and Iran will work together to test the West’s resolve over the next three years, all the while strategically building their forces to threaten the West. The US may have to fight on two continents simultaneously, but may choose not to. ‘

I might say the same to you regarding coffee. We are now a small country globally who could easily be overtaken by Poland in GDP per capita by 2030. We have broken services and people dying in A&E.

And as for the new ‘Axis of Evil’, there is one significant power there, China. If it weren’t for nukes, Russia would be irrelevant. If we boxed clever, in quarter of a century Russia could be our ally, greatly enhancing Europe as a Power to confront China (plus Iran and N Korea). Putin won’t be here forever and Russia wanted to join NATO in the 90s (we preferred to send Goldmans in and help create the oligarchs).

I actually agree that Europe needs to rearm, but that starts with Germany. We are already more than pulling our weight.

How will spending money meant for our defence on yet more benefits change that?

Who's telling them that? The outgoing government, not this one.

It's not about that they including my next door neighbour is being vilified and told they are a drain on society and at fault for the country being on its knees but there's aid going all over the world 🌎 gaza/Ukraine/Africa ( there will be more )

This. Look at what happened in the months before ww2 started.

We spent £4.7bn on Ukraine in the 2 years to Feb 2024, and the outgoing government's budget for Ukraine was £2.5bn for 24/25, which was always likely to increase.

Do people not understand the impact of not spending this money?

It is indeed. Not least because of the way in which residents of said regions have been treated since being occupied by Russia. Russian speakers certainly haven't been spared, and it's a gross overgeneralisation to describe even the Donbass as a pro Russian region. The picture is more mixed.

What did I think that meant? Certainly not 3bn a year!

And, if it did, maybe that goes some way to explaining why the NHS is so woefully underfunded...

We already spend £40 billion per year on disability benefits - over 10 times the amount proposed here. How much would be enough in your eyes?

£3bn is about 30 hours of UK tax revenue. That ignores local taxes - council tax and business rates.

Ukraine will only lose this war if the West withdraws its support. If the West withdraws its support, we confirm that fighting to keep democracy is not worthwhile. Then, we lose everything.

For those who need to, wake up and smell the coffee. China now has troops in Belarus. China, Russia, NK and Iran will work together to test the West’s resolve over the next three years, all the while strategically building their forces to threaten the West. The US may have to fight on two continents simultaneously, but may choose not to.

It’s time for Europe to focus on defence. It’s time to rearm as the realistic way to hold peace.

I will also add that I never cease to be amazed by the sheer number of posters on here who seem to think any money that isn’t spent on NHS, disability benefits or SEN is wasted.

But, right now, he would happily settle for 20% of Ukraine

If this were actually true, we'd have withdrawn the help by now.

Agree. I’m delighted to hear this news.

We were already spending billions on Ukraine. War in Europe would be way more expensive on every level.

Thanks @TreadLight for going to all that trouble by cutting and pasting links to various articles

But my question remains, what pro-Russian eastern regions? Different thing

I'm fully aware of russian actions pre and post maidan.

I hear you, honestly I do, but we elected a new government in the hope they could fix the real problems we currently have in the UK, like repairing our very broken NHS.

Surely, if we have 3 billion a year to 'spare', it should be invested in this?

YABU.

We should be thanking Ukraine.

We are losing money, they are losing money and their lives.

If Ukraine give up and roll over do you think Putin will be satisfied and stop there?

Give them as much money as they need for as long as they need it, and be thankful it's just money we're giving.

A quick google gives various articles

https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2022/11/what-next-for-ukraines-formerly-pro-russian-regions?lang=en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_separatist_forces_in_Ukraine

https://abcnews.go.com/International/ukraine-separatist-regions-crux-russian-invasion/story?id=83084803

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/22/what-are-donetsk-and-luhansk-ukraines-separatist-statelets

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/4/ukraine-crisis-who-are-the-russia-backed-separatists

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26910210

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/how-eastern-ukraine-was-lost/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/11/eastern-ukraine-referendum-donetsk-luhansk

Fabulous isn't it

At last my hard earned taxes are going on something worthwhile.

It is a disproportionate and unnecessary amount.

I don’t buy the domino theory so often used to support Ukraine. Yes, if we had allowed Putin to invade Ukraine at little cost, he might have thought of venturing further. But, right now, he would happily settle for 20% of Ukraine, at least some of which is more Russian than Ukrainian in terms of language and culture.

The great powers (the U.S and China) may need a more global view, but we don’t, especially if Europe won’t come along for the ride. The nations who should be investing a lot more are Germany (especially) and Poland, not the UK.

I find the grandstanding of the establishment over Ukraine quite nauseating when so many are dying here through lack of basic medical care and schools are falling apart. We might still be a rich (ish) country on paper, but that is because of the super wealthy. On a median income basis, we are really quite average.

We should pay our fair share on Ukraine, but no more.

Yes and isn't it wonderful to hear the sensible, rather than inflammatory language and tone that's being used?

Obviously they need to deliver, but what a happy start.

What do you mean "begins"? What "begins"?

Up until this time last week the Tories were in charge and they have already spent billions on supporting Ukraine since the invasion. Nothing has changed, Starmer has just confirmed that the support will continue.