Britain and France will continue to support Ukraine in its war against the Russian invasion “no matter what it takes,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Tuesday, calling it “essential” to defeat President Vladimir Putin.
Cameron’s remarks came amid growing concerns in Kyiv about Western fatigue over the war against Russia, nearly two years after the invasion began in February 2022.
“Britain and France are among Ukraine’s strongest supporters, and we will continue to do so no matter what it takes,” Cameron said after talks with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna in Paris. “If we continue that support, I have no doubt that Putin will lose, and it is essential that he loses.”
Cameron compared the war in Ukraine to chapters in a play. He added that “the first chapter is the great failure of Russia to achieve its objectives” in the first phase of the invasion.
“The second chapter is the resounding resistance of the Ukrainians who repelled the Russians … and the third chapter is of course the hardest,” he said, in an apparent reference to the failure of the Ukrainian counter-offensive. “But the fourth chapter has not yet been written, and we must make sure we write it the right way.”
For her part, Colonna said that “our countries have worked together since the beginning to ensure that Russian aggression is not rewarded.” She added: “We hope that this cooperation will be further strengthened,” noting that “it is clear that the fate of Ukraine is at stake, as well as the security of the European continent.”
The two ministers also discussed a range of other issues, including the situation in Syria and the need to address the global food crisis.
The pledge of continued support from Britain and France is a major boost for Ukraine, which has been seeking to maintain Western unity in the face of the Russian invasion. However, it remains to be seen whether that unity will hold, as the war drags on and the costs of supporting Ukraine rise.
