UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has called on American politicians to support Ukraine, emphasizing that “it is in the interests of the United States of America,” Sky News reported.
The US aid to Ukraine has been stalled in Congress for months, benefiting Russia on the battleground as Ukraine’s stocks of artillery munitions and missiles deplete without the much-needed supplies from the US.
“When we say there’s a red line, we mean it. It doesn’t matter who else you are, which part of the world you’re interested in, you can see that we stick with the programme. That is why I think it is so important that Congress stays with us,” Shapps stated.
During his visit to Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, where he met with British and Ukrainian soldiers, Shapps addressed the deadlock in the US Congress over President Biden’s proposed $60 billion military aid package for Kyiv.
“My message to those on Capitol Hill is really simple – I was in the White House and Capitol Hill last month. It is: do this because it’s in the interests of the United States of America,” he said.
Shapps stressed the importance of showing global “despots,” including Putin, that the West is committed to its stance.
“Do it because it’s not just coming to Europe’s rescue again, but because we have to show not just Putin but other despots, despotic leaders elsewhere, that you can’t get away with just timing us out – waiting until we get bored and then we say we’re going to stop you and we don’t,” Shapps said.
The Defense Secretary also reflected on the broader implications of the conflict, stating, “We instinctively know and appreciate that if we allow a tyrant to invade their neighbor, then all gloves are off. It means you just give up on the world order and that would have a significant impact for every British family.”
Shapps noted that the UK has already contributed its largest package ever to Ukraine, amounting to £2.5 billion this year, surpassing the combined total of £2.3 billion from the previous two years.
“We are very, very keen to see the rest of the world contributing as well,” Shapps added.
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