Cameron says no restrictions on striking targets in Russia with British-supplied weapons: Macron suggests ground troops could be sent to Ukraine if Russia breaks through Ukrainian lines
Cameron breaks ranks with Biden
British Foreign Minister David Cameron has broken ranks with Joe Biden’s “red line” policy prohibiting attacks by Ukraine against targets in Russia with weapons supplied by NATO countries.
Patrick Wintour of the Guardian reports,1
The UK has promised £3bn a year “for as long as it is necessary” to help Ukraine, David Cameron said on Thursday as he made his second visit to Kyiv since becoming UK foreign secretary.
He also said he had no objection if weapons supplied by the UK were used to strike inside Russia.
…
Cameron said in a Reuters interview: “Ukraine has the right to strike inside Russia because Russia is striking inside Ukraine … You can understand why Ukraine feels the need to defend itself.”
…
Cameron said: “Ukraine is fiercely defending itself against Russia’s illegal invasion, making a war Putin thought would last days take years. But this war is the challenge of our generation and Ukraine cannot fight it alone.”“We must all step up to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to win. Through our multi-year military funding, weapons provision and vital support to protect and repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the UK is standing with Ukraine and we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
Importantly, Cameron provided clarity on the goal of the war.
The mantra of NATO country leaders has been that tbeir countries will support Ukraine “as long as it takes”–leaving open the question of whether the goal is victory or simply avoiding defeat.
Cameron has now explicitly endorsed the goal of victory. Others will follow. Others will also follow Britain’s example and supply weapons to Ukraine without prohibiting their use against targets in Russia.
If the policy enunciated by Cameron is actually implemented by the U..K. and other countries, it could have a major strategic impact on the course of the war.
At the same time, Warren Murray et. al. report in The Guardian the following:2
Emmanuel Macron has said the question of sending western troops to Ukraine would “legitimately” arise if Russia broke through Ukrainian frontlines and Kyiv made such a request. In an interview with the Economist, the French president maintained his stance of strategic ambiguity, saying: “I’m not ruling anything out, because we are facing someone who is not ruling anything out.”
While the sclerotic decision-making characteristic of the Biden administration shows no movement, its appears that Britain and France understand the dire situation which Ukraine faces and have the mental agility to respond appropriately.
Macron is speaking about a potential development which could take place very soon.
Cameron and Macron apparently understand that this is not just Ukraine’s war, but “Our War”.
We may now be witnessing the passing of the mantle of leadership of the Atlantic Alliance from Washington to London and Paris.
James Rowles is a former Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School and professor of international law at other universities.
Patrick Wintour, “David Cameron commits £3bn a year in aid to Ukraine ‘for as long as necessary’; The foreign secretary called the conflict ‘the challenge of our generation’ after making second trip to Kyiv to meet Zelenskiy,” The Guardian, May 2, 2024 (22.07 BST);
Warren Murray with Guardian writers and agencies, “Ukraine war briefing: Ukrainians ‘have the right to strike inside Russia’, says David Cameron; France’s Macron stands firm on potentially sending troops; sanctions on Russian gas leave Gazprom with record annual loss. What we know on day 800,” The Guardian, May 3, 2024 (01.06 ***
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