During a quick visit to Washington on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensky focused on solidifying US support for Ukraine. He delivered an optimistic report on the war’s advancements but also faced new questions regarding the continuous flow of US financial aid that has sustained his troops in their fight against Russian forces for almost 19 months.
The Ukrainian leader’s reception was significantly more understated than the hero’s welcome he enjoyed from Congress the previous year.
Despite this, he received largely positive feedback regarding the upcoming round of US aid, which he insists is vital to prevent defeat.
Clad in long-sleeve olive drab attire, Zelensky arrived at the Capitol with a resolute message during private discussions with both Republican and Democratic leaders.
Lawmakers quoted him as asserting that Ukraine has a robust war strategy and is currently “prevailing,” a crucial message as the global community closely monitors Western support for Kyiv.
President Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet for Zelenskiy upon his arrival at the White House South Lawn, elevating the level of ceremony beyond what world leaders typically receive. Furthermore, Biden communicated his concerns to members of Congress.
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A rising wave of resistance to ongoing financial aid for Ukraine, primarily emanating from a faction of congressional Republicans closely linked to the party’s leading presidential hopeful, Donald Trump, is now putting at risk what was once a smoother process of congressional approval for the four previous funding packages, amounting to $113 billion.
Additionally, any progress in opposing US assistance to Ukraine raises the specter of a potential decline in public support for the war effort.
Asked about the funding issue after meeting with Zelenskiy, Biden answered: ‘I’m counting on the good judgment of the United States Congress. There’s no alternative.’
President Zelenskiy’s recent visit to Washington was his second since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This visit comes at a crucial juncture when President Biden’s request to Congress for an additional $24 billion to address Ukraine’s military and humanitarian needs hangs in the balance. Resistance to this latest appeal may lead to delays or reductions in funding.
On Thursday, the administration revealed an additional $325 million in presidential drawdown assistance for Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken specified that this package would include additional air defense assets, artillery ammunition, cluster munitions, and various other armaments.
In the face of opposition to the Ukrainian funding package from Trump-aligned Republicans, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made a conspicuous choice not to join House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat, in greeting Zelenskiy upon his arrival.
Furthermore, McCarthy confirmed that he had declined Zelenskiy’s request for a joint session of Congress, in contrast to the Ukrainian president’s previous dramatic visit to Washington last winter, citing the lack of sufficient notice.
In the hours leading up to Zelenskiy’s visit to Congress, Russia launched its most ferocious attacks in a month. These strikes claimed three lives, sparked fires, and caused damage to vital energy infrastructure, with Russian missiles and artillery relentlessly striking cities across Ukraine.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan underscored Thursday that Biden would seek to drive home with Zelenskiy’s visit that the US and the world ‘send the unmistakable message that in the 21st century, a dictator cannot be allowed to conquer or carve up his neighbor’s territory’.
‘If we allow that here, it will happen elsewhere in ways that will undermine the fundamental security, not to mention the values that the American people hold so dear,’ Sullivan said.