UBBC attends EU / Ukraine parliamentary conference

UBBC members attended the EU Ukraine UK parliamentary conference in Smith Square under the auspices of New Europeans organisation.

With a mix of EU MEPs, Ben Coleman MP, and two Ukrainian MPs, including Lesia Vasylenko and Vadym Haluchuk.

The conversation topics covered both security and battlefield activity, and the coming threat to Ukraine during winter, and the humanitarian impact. Defence, energy and civil society.

The coming winter will be brutal for Ukrainians as Russia is already heavily targeting energy installations and transition hubs. Ukraine has managed to increase 4GW of energy this summer, but that falls short of the 9GW it lost last year. However, the country is well prepared with good stocks of gas stored underground, generational capacity, back up generators and measures to reduce pressure on the grid. The key issue will be distribution, and it is believed this will impact on industry first and foremost.

The other issue is access to patriot defence missiles, which are very low, and the US must rebuild its stock due the Gulf war, while other countries are loathe to draw down their defences. For example, Greece has 1500 patriots, it is hanging on to lest Turkey attacks. This is a crunch point for Ukraine as Russia is sending heavy bombardment, ballistic and petrol driven drones to Kyiv. ON the other hand, Kyiv is impacting Russian economy and supply lines, while it evolved new technologies to intercept missiles and develops its own longer-range firepower.

In a follow up discussion members said the EU parliament must continue to press its countries to support and communicate Ukraine’s situation, while also evolving more effective anti-Russian propaganda that is saturating digital media in EU. Communications are an area for the EU to step up and counteract Russian disinformation.

The other big topic is Ukrainian integration into EU market and accession. Which discussions are initially due in 2027, though some MPs are sceptical that a rapid resolution can be reached, knowing how slowly the block decides. Until there is more clarity on timelines and decisions from EU, investment and projects will be dragging their feet.

Observationally the Finns and Scandinavians have been long prepared to repel Russia, with their no-nonsense approach and over thousand miles of underground tunnels and resources to avoid bombardments and attack. There is much we can all learn from them.