David Cameron urges US Republicans to send Ukraine more long-range weapons

David Cameron, the UK's Foreign Secretary, used his inaugural trip to the United States to call on the Republican party to provide greater support to Ukraine, particularly in the form of more long-range weapons. Cameron emphasized the cost-effectiveness of such aid, highlighting that for a mere 10% of the US defense budget, nearly half of Russia's prewar military assets had been neutralized. The British Foreign Secretary urged patience in assessing Ukraine's military advances and argued against setting red lines on Western aid, with the exception of direct NATO troops engaging in combat with Russia.

Cameron underscored that nothing would deter Russia and President Putin more effectively than witnessing a robust Ukrainian offensive to reclaim Crimea, emphasizing the need for additional supplies of long-range weaponry to achieve this goal. In a departure from the UK's previous tone, Cameron also advocated for the West to go beyond freezing and instead seize Russian central bank assets, suggesting that the seized funds could serve as a down payment for the reparations Russia will eventually owe for its illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington, Cameron expressed optimism about Ukraine's situation, urging Republicans not to lose hope and emphasizing the significant territorial gains Ukraine has made. He pointed out that Ukraine had reclaimed half the territory seized by Russia and successfully incapacitated a fifth of the Russian Black Sea fleet. The British Foreign Secretary urged continued support for Ukraine, emphasizing that providing advanced weapons had proven effective in enhancing Ukraine's defensive capabilities.

Cameron addressed the previous hesitancy in the US regarding the supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine, noting that such concerns about escalation had not materialized. He stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine without crossing the red line of direct conflict between NATO and Russian forces. During his visit, Cameron engaged with senior Republicans in Congress, seeking to rally support for increased assistance to Ukraine.

Describing Putin's invasion as the most egregious violation of a state's sovereignty since World War II, Cameron expressed concern over the US Senate's recent decision to block a supplemental funding bill that included financial aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The vote raises the risk of Congress failing to approve additional funding for Ukraine before the end of the year. Cameron vowed to address this issue in talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, emphasizing the urgency of providing essential support to Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against Russian aggression.