- Title: Poland and UK urge U.S. Congress to adopt Ukraine aid package
- Date: 15th February 2024
- Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (FEBRUARY 15, 2024) (REUTERS) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID CAMERON GETTING OUT OF CAR CAMERON SHAKING HANDS WITH POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER RADOSLAW SIKORSKI / CAMERON AND SIKORSKI POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS / CAMERON AND SIKORSKI WALKING AWAY UK AND POLISH FLAGS IN FRONT OF POLISH FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING CAMERON AND SIKORSKI ENTERING PRESS BRIEFING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DAVID CAMERON, TALKING ABOUT UK AND POLISH SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, SAYING: "Most important what we discussed today is our partnership in supporting Ukraine. I see this as the challenge of our generation. Two foreign ministers standing here today is like two foreign ministers standing here in the 1930s when we faced a similar challenge from a similar, aggressive dictator who was trying to change Europe's boundaries by force and who was ignoring the sovereignty and inviability of other countries' borders. That's what we face today with Putin (Russian President Vladimir Putin) and the challenge is do we have the political will to match it." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER, RADOSLAW SIKORSKI, SAYING: "I would like you to treat this as our joint appeal to the U.S. House of Representatives and personally to Speaker Mike Johnson to put the aid package for Ukraine to a vote. This is, as David said, an epochal decision that will affect American credibility around the globe and with its allies. So we urge the U.S. to vote on this aid package." SIKORSKI SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DAVID CAMERON, SAYING: "We applaud what the EU's already done for Ukraine. But because of their strength and the power in the world, we really do want to see (U.S.) Congress pass that money to support Ukraine economically, but crucially militarily in the months ahead. We saw yet again yesterday, in the Black Sea, the huge success that Ukraine is having against Putin's Russia. They have now sunk 20%, over 20% of Russia's Black Sea fleet and as a result Ukraine is exporting grain again, the Ukrainian economy is growing again, the Black Sea is open again. So when people talk about stalemate, there is no stalemate on the Black Sea. And we have to do anything we can to make sure that Ukraine can succeed in this year and beyond, that we must not let Putin think he can outwait us." CAMERON TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DAVID CAMERON, TALKING ABOUT U.S. AID PACKAGE TO UKRAINE, SAYING: "When Britain, and Europe, and America, when we stand together, when we fight together, when we stand up for freedom, when we stand against aggression, when we stand with our partners, we can't be defeated. That's what is necessary this time. And this is not just the European issue, there will be other people watching what the Americans do. They will be watching in China, they will be watching in Iran, and every country around the world will be watching, to see are we, these Western countries, are we reliable allies. When we say we're going to back you, when we say you're right to resist aggression, when we say you're right to defend your country, when we say you're right to defend your borders, are we with you, not just today, and tomorrow and for months, but are we with you until your aggressor has lost." SIKORSKI LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DAVID CAMERON, TALKING ABOUT SWEDEN JOINING NATO, SAYING: "We want to see a stronger NATO, as you do. You are making huge commitments on defence spending, which we applaud. And both of us are delighted to see Finland join NATO, and we want to see Sweden join NATO. We urge our Hungarian counterpart to make that happen as soon as possible. I think the strengthening of NATO in this difficult and dangerous and uncertain world is one of the best things we can do, not just for European security but for global security." CAMERON AND SIKORSKI SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 29th February 2024 10:55
- Keywords: British Foreign Secretary David Cameron Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND
- City: WARSAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001067515022024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron appealed to the U.S. Congress on Thursday (February 15) to adopt an aid package for Ukraine during a joint news conference in Warsaw.
U.S. President Joe Biden and top officials are pushing the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, for a vote on what the White House says is a critically needed funding bill for Ukraine's war against Russia that is opposed by former President Donald Trump.
Trump's opposition to the Senate-approved $95.34 billion military aid package for Ukraine and Israel means that it may never be voted on in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Western funding is crucial for Kyiv's ability to repel Russian attacks and keep its battered economy going as the war nears its third year. Poland and Britain have been among Ukraine's strongest supporters in its efforts to drive back the Russian invaders.
(Production: Kuba Stezycki, Milan Pavicic, Laura Urraca-Makuch) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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