UK defence in 2025: Renewed interest in the Arctic
How is UK defence responding to increasing geopolitical competition in the Arctic/ High North?

This paper provides a timeline of the major events in the Ukraine-Russia conflict since the 2022 Russian invasion.
Conflict in Ukraine: A timeline (current conflict, 2022 - present) (1 MB , PDF)
The current conflict in Ukraine began on 24 February 2022 when Russian military forces entered the country from Belarus, Russia and Crimea.
Prior to the invasion, there had already been eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian Government forces and Russia-backed separatists.
This paper provides a timeline of the major events that happened in the conflict in Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion.
A timeline covering events during the prior eight years is available in Commons Library research briefing CBP-9476, Conflict in Ukraine: A timeline (2014 – eve of 2022 invasion).
Note: There was a change of government in the UK following the General Election on 4 July 2024. All references to the Prime Minister and other ministers, and UK government policies, are correct as of the date of each entry.
Note: On 20 January 2025 the Trump administration took office in the US. All references to the US President and cabinet secretaries, and US government policies, are correct as of the date of each entry.
Conflict in Ukraine: A timeline (current conflict, 2022 - present) (1 MB , PDF)
How is UK defence responding to increasing geopolitical competition in the Arctic/ High North?
Which states are in the Arctic Council and what is its role?
A Westminster Hall debate on the May 2025 UK-EU Summit is scheduled for Thursday 22 May, from 1.30pm. The debate was selected by the Backbench Business Committee and will be led by Stella Creasy MP and Richard Tice MP.