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 is calling for Congress to approve more aid to Ukraine
- Cameron also says China has 'changed' and the West needs to be 'clear-eyed'
David Cameron will tell Antony Blinken on Thursday that Britain believes there is a “strong case” for seizing frozen Russian assets and spending them on rebuilding Ukraine.
The British Foreign Secretary will tell his American counterpart that the money could also be used as a “down payment” for reparations that Vladimir Putin would later have to pay for the invasion of his neighbor.
Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington ahead of a meeting with Blinken, Cameron said he was also urging Congress to approve a new package of military aid to Ukraine.
He said if that didn't happen it could cost American lives later because Putin wouldn't 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 the defense of Ukraine.
He said that if economic and humanitarian aid were included – and not just military aid – Europe would have spent twice as much as the US
Kiev has argued that about $300 billion in Russian Central Bank assets frozen by Western banks should be confiscated and used as part of the cost of reconstruction.
Cameron said: “There's a very strong argument to say: rather than just freezing that money, let's spend that money on rebuilding Ukraine and that is, if you like, a down payment on reparations that Russia is paying will have to do one day. pay for the illegal invasion they undertook.
“I've looked at all the arguments and so far I haven't seen anything that convinces me this is a bad idea.”
Joe Biden has called on Republicans to pass a new package that would include $61 billion for Ukraine.
However, Senate Republicans blocked the Democratic-backed legislation on Wednesday amid growing concerns about its 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
A makeshift memorial made of thousands of personalized small flags for the fallen defenders of Ukraine
Cameron met with Republican Chairman Mike Johnson during his first visit to Washington since becoming secretary of state.
He later said: 'If there is a victory for Putin, this will not be the end. If we let him win in Ukraine, it will happen somewhere else. And it won't just be American money that's a trick. It could be a NATO country. So it could be American lives.”
He added: “I am not worried about the strength, unity, consensus and courage of the Ukrainian people. I'm afraid we won't do what we need to do.
“We need to make sure we give them the weapons, the economic support, the moral support, the diplomatic support, but crucially, that military support that can make a difference.”
Cameron said that Ukraine is the 'great test for our generation' and 'European security is also American security.'
He said: “We must pass this money on to the Ukrainians. We must support them and make sure that it is Putin who loses, because if that money is not voted through, there will only be two people who will smile – one of them is Vladimir Putin. Russia and the other is Xi Jinping in Beijing.”
Cameron said China has changed since he was prime minister
Cameron is interviewed at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington
Cameron also warned that China was not the same as when he ushered in a “golden era” in relations as prime minister in 2015.
He said: “China has changed. It is a different China we are dealing with and we need to harden our systems and therefore be very clear.”
Cameron also said that people calling for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza “must understand that if you stop now, while Hamas is still in control of even part of Gaza, there can never be a two-state solution.” come.'
He added that the world is likely to face more, rather than fewer, crises as a result of the behavior of countries like Iran and China.
'We currently have two crises in the world: Ukraine and the Middle East. “I think it's more likely we'll get a third than lose one of the two we already have,” he said.