After more than two years of grinding conflict in
Ukraine , it can be easy to forget about this ongoing war. Lord David Cameron ’s mission in
Washington this week is to ensure that the US political establishment is not allowed to forget. Many senior Republicans see the war as an irritating distraction – some would be happy to see it end even with a deal which sees Kyiv give up vast swathes of its territory for good. The Foreign Secretary on his own cannot sway the
American political process . But as the representative of Nato’s second highest-spending
MILITARY power, and as a former Conservative PM with his own high profile, Lord Cameron may be able to have some influence on the debate. The stakes are high. Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that the $60bn (£47bn) US funding package currently stuck in
Congress could make a difference between his troops being able to hold the line, and an inexorable
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British officials point out that there is a serious risk the bravery of Ukraine’s military is outgunned by Moscow’s superior supplies of artillery. Lord Cameron’s message will not be upbeat (even before he is inevitably asked for his views on the
Israeli bombardment of Gaza). He believes that this year is about “holding the line” in Ukraine, with Mr Zelensky’s forces unable to make any major fresh advances until 2025. At a time when domestic politics in
Britain often feel stuck, it may be that the best place for beleaguered ministers to make a lasting impact is on the world stage. It helps that
Labour is fully behind the Government’s position on this issue. The
UK is of course not the force it once was, but we have more influence than we sometimes think. The outcome of the war in Ukraine will echo in history for decades – it is welcome that our politicians are trying to do their bit.