Sir Gavin Williamson spoke to Ukrainian and Polish residents of the International Speaking Club in Great Wyrley, discussing his experience in Ukraine as Secretary of State for Defence and speaking on the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
Sir Gavin was invited by the founder of the club, Rymma Demidova, whom he had supported when she moved to Great Wyrley in 2017 to escape the war. She set up a speaking club for other Ukrainian refugees to learn English and improve their understanding of British culture.
Sir Gavin was pleased to be asked to speak at the event, where he talked about his visits to Odesa and Kyiv as Defence Secretary. He also emphasised his support for sending British military and financial aid to Ukraine, stressing that a Ukrainian victory is key to deterring Russian aggression across Europe.
Sir Gavin said: ‘It was a pleasure to meet with the members of the International Speaking Club and I’m grateful to Nick and Valerie for hosting the event. I always appreciate opportunities to speak about my time in Ukraine and to emphasise why it’s so important for us to continue our support for the country during this conflict. The Speaking Club is also a fantastic organisation to help Ukrainian and Polish residents in the area connect and support each other as they settle into the community.’
Rymma Demidova, founder of the International Speaking Club, said: ‘Thank you for your assistance and attending the meeting. The club members are very grateful for the interesting event which was great for learning English language and culture.’
