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WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden vowed after welcoming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to the White Home on December 21 to strengthen help for Ukraine and instructed Zelenskiy america backs a “simply peace” for the nation.
“It is an honor to be by your facet,” Biden instructed Zelenskiy in short remarks earlier than the 2 leaders started their Oval Workplace assembly. Ukrainians “encourage the world” of their struggle for freedom and democracy, Biden added.
Stay Briefing: Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine
RFE/RL’s Stay Briefing offers you the entire newest developments on Russia’s ongoing invasion, Kyiv’s counteroffensive, Western navy support, world response, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL’s protection of the struggle, click on right here.
The U.S. president additionally pledged to proceed sending monetary, navy, and humanitarian support to Ukraine, as Zelenskiy expressed his appreciation “from my coronary heart” for U.S. help.
Zelenksiy’s first journey overseas because the begin of Russia’s invasion comes as Congress prepares to vote on a sweeping spending invoice that features a provision to allocate greater than $40 billion in further navy support to Ukraine.
Zelenskiy, wearing a military-style olive inexperienced sweater and trousers, arrived on the White Home in a black SUV bearing the flags of america and Ukraine. He was greeted by Biden and first woman Jill Biden shortly after his arrival at Joint Base Andrews exterior Washington aboard a U.S. Air Drive jet.
After Zelenskiy arrived america introduced its largest single supply of arms to Ukraine, together with Patriot surface-to-air missiles. The State Division mentioned in a assertion that the missile methods are “able to bringing down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and plane at a considerably increased ceiling than beforehand offered air-defense methods.”
The White Home mentioned earlier in an announcement that Biden would announce a major new package deal of safety help to assist Ukraine defend itself towards Russian aggression.
In a publish on Telegram Zelenskiy mentioned the goal of his assembly with Biden was to strengthen Kyiv’s capacity to defend itself towards the invading Russian forces.
WATCH: Russia continues to amass troops in neighboring Belarus, a rustic that Moscow has used as a launching floor to assault Ukraine.
“I’m in Washington at this time to thank the American folks, the president, and the Congress for his or her much-needed help. And likewise to proceed cooperation to deliver our victory nearer,” Zelenskiy mentioned.
“I’ll maintain a sequence of negotiations to strengthen the resilience and protection capabilities of Ukraine,” he mentioned, including that the talks will together with the topic of “bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and america.”
Zelenskiy’s publish included images of his arrival on the airport and his reception on a pink carpet rolled out on the backside of the jet’s stairs.
Zelenskiy’s adviser, Mykhaylo Podolyak, instructed Reuters that the go to is “extraordinarily vital” and that it invalidates Moscow’s makes an attempt to drive a wedge between Washington and Kyiv by alleging bilateral relations have gotten cooler.
“Firstly, each the go to itself and the extent of deliberate conferences unequivocally testify to the excessive diploma of belief between the nations. Secondly, this lastly places an finish to the makes an attempt by the Russian facet…to show an allegedly rising cooling in our bilateral relations,” Podolyak mentioned in written feedback.
“This, after all, isn’t even shut,” Podolyak added. “The USA unequivocally helps Ukraine.”
Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat-California) despatched a letter to members of the Home of Representatives on December 21 outlining particulars of Zelenskiy’s go to to the U.S. Capitol.
“It’s with nice pleasure and solemnity that, tonight, we are going to welcome President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to deal with a Joint Assembly of Congress,” she mentioned, including that the particular session is anticipated to start at 7:30 p.m. native time.
“Because the struggle for freedom in Ukraine wages on, we stay up for listening to his inspiring message of braveness, unity, and willpower,” Pelosi mentioned.
Internet hosting Zelenskiy shall be one of many remaining acts for Pelosi, who shall be changed by a Republican when the brand new Home session opens early in January. Democrats misplaced management of the Home within the November election however retained the Senate.
IN PHOTOS: Liberated by Ukrainian forces in September, some residents of Bohorodychne, a settlement within the Donetsk area of jap Ukraine, returned to search out their neighborhood — which implies “the place God was born” — nearly worn out by struggle.
Ukrainian Villagers Return To The City ‘The place God Was Born’ To Discover Widespread Destruction
Bohorodychne, a settlement within the Donetsk area of jap Ukraine, was attacked by Russian forces in June and occupied in August. Liberated by Ukrainian forces in September, some residents returned to search out their neighborhood — which implies “the place God was born” — nearly worn out by struggle.
Zelenskiy’s go to comes 300 days after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine, triggering the largest struggle on European soil since World Warfare II. It additionally coincides with Congress’s consideration of a $1.7 trillion spending package deal that features large support to Ukraine.
The omnibus invoice, as it’s recognized, would fund the U.S. authorities by September and is anticipated to move the Home and Senate although there’s discontent amongst some Republicans, who management half of the 100 Senate seats.
Nonetheless, the senior official mentioned the Biden administration is assured that help will stay bipartisan.
“This is not about sending a message to a selected political get together. That is about sending a message to Putin and sending a message to the world that America shall be there for Ukraine for so long as it takes.”
Ukraine is very depending on U.S. navy support to defend itself. The failure to move the invoice might result in a U.S. authorities shutdown early subsequent yr when Republicans take management of the Home and set off a hold-up of further support to Ukraine at a time when many anticipate Russia to launch a brand new offensive.
Ukraine has additionally been asking for Abrams tanks, ATACMS long-range guided missiles, and F-16s, however the Biden administration has to this point refused to present the inexperienced mild on these highly effective weapons methods.
The help for Ukraine included within the omnibus spending package deal, which lawmakers are below stress to move by midnight on December 23, would quantity to the largest American infusion of help but.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, requested if Moscow had hoped that one thing constructive might come from Zelenskiy’s journey, mentioned, “No.”
“The availability of weapons continues and the vary of provided weapons is increasing. All of this, after all, results in an aggravation of the battle. This doesn’t bode effectively for Ukraine,” Peskov mentioned.
With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
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