Back Kyiv to show ‘borders matter’, Lord Cameron urges

LORD CAMERON has told Republicans blocking a new aid package to Ukraine that Kyiv must defeat Russia to show that “borders matter”.

The Foreign Secretary’s message, ahead of a visit to Washington DC, is an attempt to appeal to the party’s belief in strong national borders.

The US president Joe Biden’s legislation containing $95 billion (£75 billion) of new security assistance for Ukraine is being held up by Republicans in the House of Representatives, which is one half of the US Congress.

The Republicans have a majority in the House, which needs to approve the legislation if Ukraine is to get its new injection of US financial support.

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has been a sceptic on Ukraine aid but has championed tougher security on the US’S southern border with Mexico by building a wall.

Lord Cameron said in a message ahead of his trip: “Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security. This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesn’t pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future. The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea. US support for Ukraine has massively degraded the military capacity of a common adversary, Russia has lost half of its pre-invasion land combat power, and a quarter of its original Black Sea fleet, while creating jobs at home and strengthening the Western alliance and Nato.”

Lord Cameron will meet figures from Mr Biden’s administration as well as political leaders in the US Congress during his visit to Washington.

The Foreign Secretary will hold talks with Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, before the pair take part in a joint press conference today. He will also see Jake Sullivan, who as the White House’s national security adviser is one of the most influential foreign policy figures around Mr Biden. No meeting is expected with the President himself.

Lord Cameron will also meet Mitch Mcconnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, who is one of the most powerful figures in the party.

The Foreign Secretary said last week he would be meeting Mike Johnson, the US speaker in the House who is blocking the Ukraine aid assistance package.

Lord Cameron will also be discussing the Gaza conflict as the UK and the US attempt to press Israel to let in more aid trucks.