This is the week when the Ukrainian people celebrate their independence, but they must fight for the future of their country and the inalienable right of all people to self-determination and freedom. What happens in Ukraine matters to all of us. As Secretary of State, I helped lead the international response and worked steadfastly to provide support in partnership with our friends and allies. If I become prime minister, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the flame of freedom in Ukraine continues to burn. Putin cannot prevail. Under my leadership, President Zelensky will have no greater ally in this dark hour than the United Kingdom. We are already at the forefront of international support providing £2.3 billion in military aid, more than any other nation in Europe. We rallied our G7 partners to target Russia with the toughest sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. We released information to deny Putin any strategic initiative, whether massing his troops on the Ukrainian border before the invasion, planning to install a puppet government in Kyiv, or in their attempts to use violence in the territories they have invaded. Russia’s invasion was built on lies. The Putin regime has said they will not invade Ukraine and will not harm civilians or target infrastructure. However, they tried to justify the unjustifiable through a deluge of misinformation. They have presided over the bombing of homes, schools and hospitals. They have forced thousands of people to flee for their lives. Their actions at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant endanger the region. Russia is pushing ahead with plans to hold referendums in areas of Ukraine it has seized. This is a shameless attack on the right of the Ukrainian people to decide their own future. A vote at gunpoint and after mass deportations could never be free. The grim reality of Putin’s war has made Russia a global pariah. As Secretary of State, I have been relentless in calling out the horrors of this conflict, including the slaughter of civilians in towns like Bukha and Russia’s assault on global food security by blockading Ukraine’s ports. I followed those words with actions like sending in war crimes experts to gather evidence. When malicious actors are ready to promote lies, it is our duty to ensure that the world hears the truth. That’s why we created the Government Intelligence Cell to counter the Kremlin’s false narratives. We will continue to step up our work to counter efforts by Russia and other authoritarian regimes to use disinformation to sow confusion and undermine global stability, leveraging the skills and tools we have with our international partners. I will go further as prime minister by doing everything possible – including declassifying more information – to expose Putin’s book to the world. My administration will strategically use intelligence to expose the Kremlin’s efforts to undermine and destabilize freedom-loving democracies. Where there are lies they will be exposed, where there is brutality we will call it out. I will take the same tough approach to countering malign activity by potentially hostile states and others that threaten global security. Ukraine was an abrupt reality shock for the free world, a wake-up call we must heed. We need to rethink our approach to security in an increasingly dangerous world and make sure we do everything we can to keep Britain and the values ​​we believe in safe. As Prime Minister, I will increase defense spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030, review how we contain and deter adversaries and ensure that Britain plays a leading role in the global effort to defend freedom and democracy. That is why what is happening in Ukraine is so important. If the free world falters and Putin succeeds, it will embolden authoritarians everywhere. Whatever it takes, a Ukrainian victory is in all of our interests. We face tough times next year – especially as winter sets in – but we cannot afford to waver in our resolve. We have proven Putin wrong in the past with the strength of our resolve and we can do it again together with our Ukrainian friends. This is the time for the free world to have the courage of their convictions and continue to stand with Ukraine. I will ensure that the UK remains bold in support, mobilizing our international coalition in our shared determination to see the Ukrainian people win the battle for their future. Together, we can show autocrats like Putin that they will never extinguish the flame of freedom.