Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 1:36 pm on 1 March 2022.
I'm grateful to the Member for Alyn and Deeside for tabling this topical question. Putin's Russia is a bully, and all bullies must be stood up to. Ukrainian sovereignty has been violated and innocent civilians are being killed by Putin's desire for conflict. This is a dark period in Europe's history. We must all work to preserve the freedom, democracy and sovereignty of Ukraine, and we stand united with President Zelenskyy, the Verkhovna Rada and the people of Ukraine. Over a number of years, since peace returned to our continent, the west had become a sleeping giant, a giant that would awake when existentially challenged. The response we are seeing from a united, determined and compassionate west has shown that this sleeping giant has awoken in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, and I am proud that the United Kingdom has been the vanguard in the global response in this crisis.
Prif Weinidog, as the grandchild of post world war two immigration, when my grandfather, a German prisoner of war, and my grandmother, a German nurse, made Pembrokeshire their home, I believe it is absolutely incumbent that we keep a welcome in the hillside for those Ukrainians who take refuge here in Wales until they feel it is safe for them to return to their homeland. With that, can you outline what immediate support you are offering to charities and other third sector organisations here in Wales as they prepare to offer that much needed support to those who have fled the destruction of Vladimir Putin's war on the democratic, sovereign state of Ukraine? Diolch.