Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner and Newcastle Central Labour MP Chi Onwurah have expressed their solidarity to those affected by the Ukrainian crisis.
Ms Rayner and Ms Onwurah both spoke at the opening of the Labour North Conference in Newcastle on Saturday, just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion on Ukraine.
Ms Onwurah opened the conference by taking a moment to show her respects to the "people in Ukraine [who] are fighting for their rights and their very lives".
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Her sentiments were echoed by Ms Rayner, who led the conference in Sir Kier Starmer's absence as he remained in London due to the "fast changing" situation in Eastern Europe.
Addressing the Labour North Conference, Ms Rayner said: "Chi's absolutely right also to mention the support that the people of Ukraine have at the moment.
"We've all seen the images over the last 48 hours and it's absolutely devastating.
"My son's 25 and when I think about what those young men in Ukraine are doing now and you heard about the 13 soldiers who were killed when they were trying to defend the island it absolutely bechills you."
Ms Rayner continued to say that the taxi driver on her way to the conference asked her if his children would be called up to go to war.
She added: "I think everyone is feeling that weight of where we are and that actually peace is something that is not just given to us and we know our history and we have to learn from that and the people of Ukraine have our absolute support and solidarity over this.
"We have a proud history of believing firmly in the triumph of democracy over dictatorship and we've always done right over wrong and freedom over tyranny so we'll continue to do that."
Speaking to ChronicleLive after her speech, Ms Rayner said: "At the moment the UK is working with our NATO allies to try and deescalate and to put severe sanctions on Putin and make it very clear that his actions are unacceptable.
"We've seen the resolves of the Ukrainian people and you sit there in admiration for what they're doing - the young men in Ukraine who have taken up arms, and the Ukrainian Government have held firm their right to defend themselves to be a free nation.
"The international support that we've seen across the whole of NATO and the Western alliance has been resolute in condemning Putin's actions.
"And we will do everything we can to deescalate the situation, but also make it absolutely clear that Putin will be held to account for what he's done."
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ms Onwurah has been actively showing her support and solidarity for the people of Ukraine.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Ms Onwurah asked for a debate on the ways communities can support Ukraine, adding that "Generous Geordies" will want to help.
