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Tanker was ‘reflagged five times in five years’
Earlier in his statement to the Commons Healey discussed the counter-Iran sanctions on the Russian-flagged oil tanker.
He said: “In 2024, this vessel was sanctioned by the US and subjected to a seizure warrant for illegally transporting uranium oil. It reflagged five times in the last five years, and was falsely flying the Guyana ensign when it was intercepted by the US.
“Over a four-year period, reports suggest that this vessel moved some 7.3 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, the proceeds of which have been used to finance terrorism, threat and instability across the world.
“And the Iranian regime continues to export violence across the region through its proxies and its partners, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iraqi militias. It maintains support for Russia by supplying Putin with weapons for his brutal invasion of Ukraine, including the drones and missiles which target and kill Ukrainian civilians. And it is telling, of course, that this vessel, in an attempt to evade the seizure warrant, changed its name and tried to adopt the Russian flag.”
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The former prime minister Rishi Sunak said Russia should not be given a veto on western troops being allowed into Ukraine following any possible peace deal.
Sunak said: “The future of Ukraine and indeed, the security of Europe, is an issue of vital UK national interest.
“I believe three prerequisites for a lasting peace in Ukraine are: firstly, a Western military presence there.
“Secondly, credible and durable security guarantees, and thirdly, a well-armed and resourced Ukrainian military.
“In his work with allies in the weeks ahead, will he ensure that any ceasefire or peace agreement does not give Russia a veto in any of those three vital areas?”
Responding, Healey agreed with Sunak’s conditions, which are part of ensuring a “lasting and secure peace,” while security guarantees from the US and the coalition of the willing “will form the basis of the confidence that President Zelensky can have in going into the negotiations”.
He said: “We hope that they will add extra impetus to those negotiations. And in the end, it will be a matter for President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people, the deal that they strike with President Putin.”
Healey was asked by the Lib Dems to guarantee that UK bases won’t be used for a future US mission that breaches international law.
Healey said the government took an “assessment about the legal basis and the purpose for the planned US operation” before allowing the troops to use bases in Britain today.
He said there is “absolutely no concern” about the legality of the joint UK-US operation to seize the tanker.
The defence secretary said Nigel Farage’s comments earlier today about not supporting Britain’s plans to put troops on the ground in a postwar Ukraine are “an insult to Ukrainians”.
He added: “It does not do justice to the sentiment of the British people” that recognise the fight of the Ukraine people and who want to see peace prevail.
Emily Thornberry MP asks is there anything more we can do to ensure Vladimir Putin agrees to a peace deal.
Healey said “One man continues to stand in the way of the Ukraine war” along with the deaths and attacks on infrastructure.
Tanker was ‘reflagged five times in five years’
Earlier in his statement to the Commons Healey discussed the counter-Iran sanctions on the Russian-flagged oil tanker.
He said: “In 2024, this vessel was sanctioned by the US and subjected to a seizure warrant for illegally transporting uranium oil. It reflagged five times in the last five years, and was falsely flying the Guyana ensign when it was intercepted by the US.
“Over a four-year period, reports suggest that this vessel moved some 7.3 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, the proceeds of which have been used to finance terrorism, threat and instability across the world.
“And the Iranian regime continues to export violence across the region through its proxies and its partners, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iraqi militias. It maintains support for Russia by supplying Putin with weapons for his brutal invasion of Ukraine, including the drones and missiles which target and kill Ukrainian civilians. And it is telling, of course, that this vessel, in an attempt to evade the seizure warrant, changed its name and tried to adopt the Russian flag.”
Healey said he is not going into details about nature of the activities in the deployment nor the number of troops that will be deployed nor the commitment of other nations.
He said the finality of that depends on the peace plan and debating these details “will only make Putin wiser”.
The Times is reporting the UK would send fewer than 7,500 troops to Ukraine to police any peace deal.
Cartlidge also asks when will the defence investment plan be published. Healey said it will be published “as soon as we can”.
In response, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Conservatives will support any effort to bring peace in Ukraine and a ceasefire deal.
He asks for clarification on the UK troop numbers that will be deployed, the composition of the force, what proportion would be involved in patrolling a demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia, and what air and naval assets would be used.
Cartlidge also asks which other nations would be involved in deploying troops apart from France and the UK.
Healey said he is visiting Kyiv “soon” to continue discussions on supporting Ukraine’s long term armaments and policing of any ceasefire.
He added US envoy Steve Witkoff has given “strong commitments” over security guarantees for Ukraine.
“A secure Europe needs a strong Ukraine, but we can only get a peace deal if Putin is ready to make compromises,” Healey added.
On Ukraine, Healey said “lets make 2026 the year that peace is not only possible but that peace is achieved.”
On the Paris meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, he said yesterday’s declaration was about ensuring a peace agreement, supporting Ukraine’s defence, commanding a multinational force to Ukraine after a ceasefire has been agreed.
Healey said this operation is a stark reminder of how the world is changing and how it is becoming “less predictable and more dangerous”.
Healey said sanctions against the shadow fleet have forced 200 ships off the seas, which is almost half of the Russian fleet’s capacity.
Healey said the UK supported the US actions for three main reasons:
To enforce counter-Iran sanctions.
To tackle the global security threat posed by “expanding shadowy maritime activity”.
To reinforce British homeland defence and security in an era of rising threats.
