Campbell says Putin will continue ‘aggression, murder, butchery’ unless sanctions ‘rigidly enforced’

Mr Gregory Campbell was speaking during a debate at Westminster on the merits of a potential international special tribunal on crimes of aggression in Ukraine.

“We should be pressing the Government to ensure the sanctions put in place are more rigidly enforced,” the DUP MP said.

"The mistake that many in the west made did not just happen two years ago but, in fact, 10 years ago when Crimea was invaded. Unless Putin sees that the West is prepared to stand up to him, he will continue with his aggression, murder and butchery as before,” he stated.

DUP MP Jim Shannon responded: “My hon. Friend always speaks words of wisdom, and those words are appropriate for where we are. I am not smarter than anybody else – I never profess to be – but many of us at that time thought we needed to stand up to what was happening in Crimea.

"We did not. I am not blaming anybody for that; it is just a fact of where we were. If we had done it then, the attacks in Donbas would not have happened with the same level of ferocity. We need to be clear on where we stand and what we are trying to do.”

Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord said Mr. Campbell was correct to talk about ‘loopholes in sanctions’.

"He was right to do so; I was informed earlier this week that oil services companies are still actively doing business with Russian energy companies.

Minister of State for Development Anneliese Dodds said: “The critical subject of sanctions was mentioned by the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr Campbell), who is no longer in his place.

"The new Government are absolutely determined to ensure that sanctions are not circumvented and that we have a robust regime. I am sure Members will be pleased to know that, very soon after the election and through the European political community, the UK managed to ensure a call to action against Russia’s shadow fleet, which has unfortunately been significant in the avoidance of sanctions.

"We are taking resolute action in that area.”

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