MPS representing regions in North Wales have shown their support for Ukraine, after Russia’s invasion of the country yesterday (Thursday, 24 February).

In a move condemned by NATO and the west, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his country’s decision to invade neighbouring Ukraine, which he referred to as a “special military operation” that intended to “demilitarise and de-Nazify” the country.

Robin Millar, MP for Aberconwy, condemned Russia’s “military conquest of its neighbour”, and said: “We must continue to support Ukraine militarily and we must be prepared to provide humanitarian aid to the potential influx of refugees into Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

“And we must continue to reinforce NATO forces in Eastern Europe and particularly in the Baltic States.

“Within living memory Russia herself has faced invasion and the Russian people know all too well the horrors and devastation that military conquest brings.”

The war in Ukraine has quickly spread to many regions of the country.

The capital Kyiv, situated near the Belarussian border (where Russia have also invaded from), has now been reached by Russian armoured vehicles, while heavy fighting has occurred in Kharkiv, Chernihiv and near the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant.

MP for Vale of Clwyd, Dr James Davies, added: “The whole world must vehemently oppose Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion.”

Tensions in the region have been high since Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Ukraine’s southern peninsula, in 2014.

And with the declarations of independence by the two Russian-backed breakaway regions, the Luhansk People’s Republic and Donestsk People’s Republic, the Russian Federation's recognition of these areas has helped to reignite the conflict.

Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s calls for peace and diplomacy to prevail, the whole country is now engulfed by all-out war.

David Jones, MP for Clwyd West, said the world had to respond strongly to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to “extinguish its independence”, and added: “This is arguably the most dangerous moment for the continent of Europe since the end of the Second World War.

“Economic sanctions must deprive Russia of access to Western capital and freeze the assets of the Russian institutions and individuals he is relying on for support in his appalling endeavour.

“In particular, Russia must be deprived of access to the Swift payment system.

“We must also recognise that NATO is our strongest bulwark against Russia.

“We must all remember that there is great truth in the old adage: the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”

Virginia Crosbie, MP for Ynys Môn, said: 

"Putin has now made his intentions clear by this reckless and cowardly attack.

"It shows him to be nothing more than a bloodthirsty tyrant and his country a pariah state.

"I welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement of a package of sanctions that will squeeze Russia from the international economy.

"Despite concerted diplomacy, Putin has chosen war not peace and this is the biggest crisis Europe has faced since the Balkans exploded into violence more than 30 years ago.

"We cannot flinch in the face of such naked aggression and, today, we are not."