Cameron and Blinken urge US Congress to approve new funds for Ukraine

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, urged the US Congress on Tuesday to unblock the stalled financing, saying that it is essential for the security of the West.

After a meeting between both foreign ministers at the State Department, Blinken reiterated his request to congressmen to release the support that President Joe Biden has been requesting for months.

For his part, Cameron expressed that he would take this same request to Capitol Hill, positioning himself “as a great friend” of the United States.

“I come here with no intention of lecturing anyone or telling anyone what to do or getting in the way of the political process and other things in the United States,” he said. “I just come as a great friend and believer in this country and a believer that it is deeply in your interest, your security and your future and the future of your partners to release this money and let it pass.”

Cameron is one of many foreign government officials who have urged U.S. lawmakers to act quickly to approve assistance to Ukraine.

Last week in Brussels, nearly all NATO member foreign ministers said the U.S. contribution is essential, echoing comments from Biden, Blinken and other administration officials.

“President Biden's supplemental budget request to Congress is urgent and imperative as the House has reconvened,” Blinken said. “We hope it will be presented to the House and voted on as quickly as possible.”

Private meeting with Trump

Cameron also met privately with former President Donald Trump at the Republican presidential candidate's Florida home on Monday. They discussed the Ukraine war and “the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements,” the Trump campaign said Tuesday.

Donald Trump has been skeptical about aid to Ukraine. Cameron called this meeting a regular meeting with an opposition figure and said it covered a number of pressing global issues, but gave no further details.

“This was entirely in line with precedent of government ministers meeting opposition politicians in the run-up to the election,” he said.

According to Cameron, Ukraine's victory is “vital for American and European security,” but the former president and presumptive Republican candidate criticizes continued US support, and lawmakers aligned with him are delaying the aid package for kyiv in the Congress.

Cameron plans to hold talks with lawmakers, including Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, and hopes to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose role is key.

In a video posted last week on social media site X, Cameron said: “President Johnson can make this happen in Congress.”

[Con información de AP y Reuters]

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