Britain and France reiterated their determination Tuesday that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine ends in failure, with the U.K. foreign minister saying that Ukraine’s allies must better leverage their economic might to vastly outmatch Moscow’s war machine.
Quick Read
- Britain and France’s Stance on Ukraine: The U.K. and France reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring Russia’s failure in its invasion of Ukraine. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron emphasized leveraging economic strength against Russia’s military capabilities.
- Economic Power Comparison: Cameron noted the combined economies of Ukraine’s Western allies vastly exceed Russia’s, urging to convert this economic advantage into effective support.
- No New Aid Announcements: Neither Cameron nor his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna, announced new assistance for Ukraine during their meeting.
- Challenges in U.S. Aid for Ukraine: In the U.S., President Joe Biden’s efforts to secure additional aid for Ukraine face delays in Congress.
- EU’s Support for Ukraine: The European Union has provided substantial assistance to Ukraine, though future funding is under discussion.
- U.K. and France’s Ongoing Support: Both countries vow continued support for Ukraine, stressing the importance of adapting strategies to the evolving conflict.
- War Phases and Future Strategies: Cameron described the war in phases, from Russia’s initial setbacks to Ukraine’s counteroffensive, highlighting the need for strategic planning for the next stage.
- Israel-Hamas Conflict Discussions: The talks also covered the Israel-Hamas war, with France advocating for a humanitarian pause and a lasting ceasefire.
- U.K.’s Ceasefire Conditions: The U.K. seeks a sustainable ceasefire where Israel is no longer threatened by Hamas.
- France’s Condemnation of Extremist Violence: Colonna condemned violence by extremist Jewish settlers in the West Bank and discussed European sanctions against them, paralleling the U.S.’s stance on imposing travel bans.
The Associated Press has the story:
UK, France reiterate that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must end in failure as US aid falters
Newslooks- PARIS (AP)
Britain and France reiterated their determination Tuesday that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine ends in failure, with the U.K. foreign minister saying that Ukraine’s allies must better leverage their economic might to vastly outmatch Moscow’s war machine.
The renewed insistence from U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron and French counterpart Catherine Colonna that Russia can’t be rewarded for its aggression comes as wartime aid from Ukraine’s biggest single military backer — the United States — is faltering.
Cameron, speaking after talks with Colonna in Paris, said that if the economies of Ukraine’s Western partners are calculated together, “we outmatch the Russian economy by 25 to one or more.”
“What we have to do is make that economic strength and that commitment pay,” he said. “If we can, I have no doubt that we can make sure that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin loses and it’s essential that he does lose.”
Neither Cameron nor Colonna announced new aid for Ukraine in their comments to reporters. They took no questions.
“Hand in hand since the beginning, our two countries are working together to ensure that the Russian aggression is not rewarded, is a failure,” Colonna said.
In the United States, assistance for Ukraine has become entangled in domestic politics. U.S. President Joe Biden’s push for billions of dollars of replenished wartime aid is being held up in Congress. The European Union and its 27 member states have sent $91 billion in wartime financial, military, humanitarian and refugee assistance. But they also are wrangling about their next planned lump-sum amount.
Cameron said that support for Ukraine from the U.K. — no longer an EU member — and France will continue “for as long as it takes.”
Likening the war to “a play that comes in different acts,” he said Ukraine’s allies must determine its next phase.
“The first act,” he said, “was the stunning failure of Russia to achieve its objectives” — when Russian invasion forces first thrust for the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in February and March of 2022 and were beaten back.
The second act was Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the summer of 2022, he said, “the brilliance that the Ukrainians showed in driving back the Russians, taking back half the territory that had been lost, pushing them back across the Black Sea.”
“The third act has been more difficult on land,” he said, a seeming reference to Ukraine’s disappointing counteroffensive this summer.
“But the fourth act is yet to be written and we must make sure we write it in the correct way, with our friends and partners in the Western world.”
Cameron and Colonna also discussed the Israel-Hamas war. France has repeatedly called for a humanitarian pause in the fighting, followed by progress toward a lasting cease-fire.
Cameron said the U.K. wants “a cease-fire as soon as possible but it must be a sustainable cease-fire. It must be a cease-fire in which Israel is no longer threatened by Hamas and its rockets and its murderous activities.”
Colonna condemned violence committed by extremist Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, calling it unacceptable. She asked that Israel act against them and said that France is working to pull together European sanctions against them. The United States has already said it would impose travel bans on extremist Jewish settlers implicated in a rash of recent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.
