U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron tells Antony Blinken $300 billion in frozen Russian assets should be used to rebuild Ukraine and as a ‘down payment’ on Kremlin reparations
- Cameron meets Blinken in Washington
- He calls on Congress to provide more aid to Ukraine
- Cameron also says China has ‘changed’ and the West needs to have ‘clear eyes’
David Cameron is due to tell Antony Blinken on Thursday that Britain believes there is a “strong case” for confiscating frozen Russian assets and using them to rebuild Ukraine.
The British Foreign Secretary will tell his American counterpart that the money could also be used as a “down payment” on the reparations that Vladimir Putin will later have to pay for invading his neighbor.
Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington ahead of his meeting with Blinken, Cameron said he was also calling on Congress to approve a new military aid package for Ukraine.
According to him, if this is not done, it could subsequently cost the lives of Americans, because Putin will not stop.
David Cameron speaks in Washington on December 7, 2023.
Cameron met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Cameron also met with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss Ukraine.
The former prime minister also defended Europe’s contribution to Ukraine’s defense.
He said that when economic and humanitarian aid is taken into account, not just military aid, Europe spent twice as much as the United States.
Kyiv argues that some $300 billion in Russian Central Bank assets frozen by Western banks should be confiscated and used as part of the cost of restoration.
Cameron said: “There is a very strong argument that instead of just freezing this money, let’s take this money and spend it on rebuilding Ukraine, and that is, if you like, a down payment on the reparations that Russia will have to pay one day.” ” pay for the illegal intrusion they undertook.
“I’ve looked at all the arguments and haven’t seen anything yet that convinces me this is a bad idea.”
Joe Biden implored Republicans to pass a new package that would include $61 billion for Ukraine.
But Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked the Democratic-backed bill amid growing concerns about costs and because they want it to be tied to new investments in U.S. border security.
Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on December 7, 2023.
An impromptu memorial of thousands of personalized flags to the fallen defenders of Ukraine
Cameron met with Republican Speaker Mike Johnson on his first visit to Washington since becoming foreign secretary.
He later said: “If Putin wins, it won’t be the end. If we let him win in Ukraine, then it will be somewhere else. And the problem will not only be about American money. This could be a NATO country. So these could be American lives.”
He added: “I am not worried about the strength, unity, harmony and courage of the Ukrainian people. I’m worried that we won’t be able to do what we need to do.
“We have to make sure we give them weapons, economic support, moral support, diplomatic support, but most importantly, the kind of military support that can make a difference.”
Cameron stated that Ukraine is “the great test of our generation” and “European security is also American security.”
He said: “We must transfer this money to the Ukrainians. We must support them and make sure that it is Putin who loses, because if this money does not pass the vote, there are only two people who will smile – one of them is Vladimir Putin in Russia, and the other is Xi Jinping in Beijing.”
Cameron says China has changed since he was prime minister
Cameron gives an interview at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington.
Cameron also warned that China is not the same as when he ushered in a “golden era” in relations as prime minister in 2015.
He said: “China has changed. We are dealing with a different China and we need to tighten up our systems and, as a result, have a very clear view.”
Cameron also said that people calling for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip “must understand that if you stop now, with Hamas still in control of at least part of the Gaza Strip, there can never be a two-state solution “
He added that the world is likely to face more, not fewer, crises due to the behavior of countries such as Iran and China.
“There are two crises in the world now – Ukrainian and Middle Eastern. I think we are more likely to get a third than to lose one of the two we already have,” he said.