Biden and Zelensky Project Unity During Ukrainian Presidents’ Visit to Washington | world news

President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, presented a united and defiant front against Russian aggression on Wednesday, with Biden promising that the United States would stand by its European ally for as long as needed.

Mr President, you have nothing to worry about. We stay with Ukraine as long as Ukraine is there,” Biden told Zelenskyy during a joint White House appearance.

Zelenskyy, thanking Biden and the American people for their support on the 300th day after Russia invaded Ukraine, said he had no message for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who Zelenskyy said lied saying that Russia would not start a war in Ukraine.

“What kind of message can I send him…after he destroys our lives?” said Zelenskyy, detailing the destruction and killing of civilians and children in his country.

Zelenskyy is eager to keep the pressure on the United States and other allies as Ukraine enters an even more painful phase of the war, but has been reluctant to push too hard on a relationship that would have at times been strained over tactics and supplies over the past year. While Ukraine has mounted a surprisingly successful defense against Russia, the extremely cold weather, combined with Putin’s attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, is creating unbearable conditions for the Ukrainian people. Biden called it “using winter as a weapon.”

Both men rejected the idea of ​​making concessions to Russia, even as they pleaded for an end to the war. One of the reasons the United States is providing more military aid to Ukraine, Biden said, is to put the country in a better position to force Putin to the diplomatic table.

“If and when President Zelensky is ready to talk to the Russians, he can succeed because he won on the battlefield,” Biden said.

Earlier today, the Biden administration announced nearly $2 billion in military aid, including, for the first time, the Patriot missile system. This air defense armament is notable because while Ukraine won the ground war, it was hammered from the sky by Russia.

Zelenskyy called for a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine and was rebuffed, with US officials fearing it could lead to an all-out war between Russia and NATO. If a Russian fighter jet, for example, shot down an American plane, it could be seen as an aggressive attack on a NATO country, triggering a response from the total security alliance.

Patriot missiles are capable of shooting down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft, giving Ukraine a better chance of fighting off Russian air strikes.

The meeting was an emotional and historic event for both men and might not have happened had Biden not won in 2020.

Zelenskyy’s visit was the first time since Winston Churchill’s era as British Prime Minister that a foreign leader whose country was at war had visited the United States. The fact that Zelenskyy, who pleaded for international aid after Russia invaded his western neighbor in February, made a very public visit to very publicly thank Biden is something of a victory for the US president.

And the irony of the visit was impossible to ignore in a week when former President Donald Trump suffered numerous setbacks, including a criminal referral by a House committee over his role in the Jan. 6 insurgency and a vote by a separate committee of the House. to release Trump’s tax returns.

Zelenskyy, eager to show his international support during a growing conflict with Russia, had asked Trump for a meeting at the White House. Trump sadly replied, “I wish you would do us a favor, though,” and asked Zelenskyy to work with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and then-Attorney General William Barr to investigate Biden and the son of the Democratic presidential candidate at the time, Hunter, who was once a member of the board of directors of a Ukrainian gas company.

Zelenskyy disagreed and had to wait until September 2021 before meeting the man who defeated Trump at the White House. Putin attacked Ukraine several months later, and the United States provided, to date, approximately $48 billion in military, financial and humanitarian aid.

Congress, Zelensky’s hearing Wednesday night, is finalizing negotiations on a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package that includes $44.9 billion in security and economic aid to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy is a popular figure in Washington, where the early politician and former comic actor is seen as a courageous and determined leader who succeeded against all odds in repelling an invasion by a bigger and more powerful neighbor.

But Zelenskyy faces problems from the next Congress, where the House will be controlled by Republicans, a number of whom have complained about the billions of dollars the United States has sent to defend a foreign nation.

Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, who is struggling to muster votes to become the next speaker, has warned against giving Ukraine a “blank cheque”. Some of the right-wing members of his conference have been reluctant to send more aid, saying Biden should “put America first.”

While McCarthy himself hasn’t been as outspoken as some members of the GOP caucus in the House, he’s also been hesitant to anger the individual members he needs to become the next House leader.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat of New York, has persecuted House Republicans who considered ignoring or rejecting Zelenskyy’s pleas.

“I hope Donald Trump’s friendship with Putin doesn’t cause House Republicans to turn a blind eye to Ukraine’s suffering and desperate need for help,” the Senate Democratic leader said on Wednesday. .

The surprise meeting between Biden and Zelenskyy stems from a conversation the two had on Dec. 11, with the White House extending an official invitation to Zelenskyy on Dec. 14, a senior White House official told reporters during a briefing. a conference call.

The invitation was officially accepted last Friday and confirmed on Sunday, the official said. Both sides managed to keep the visit a secret until Tuesday evening, protecting Zelenskyy’s safety.

Zelenskyy, dressed in an olive green sweater and pants, thanked Biden profusely at the start of their bilateral meeting at the White House. While the situation in Ukraine is “difficult,” making any visits impossible, Wednesday’s in-person meeting meant “the situation is under control thanks to your support,” Ukraine’s president told Biden.

Zelenskyy then presented Biden with a fight award won by a Ukrainian captain. The Ukrainian military officer had told Zelenskyy, “Give it to the very brave president” who supported Ukraine and helped save many lives, Zelenskyy explained.

“God loves you,” Biden replied. “Undeserved but much appreciated.” Thanking Zelenskyy, Biden added that he would give the Ukrainian captain a command coin honoring his late son, Beau Biden, who served in Iraq.

Asked about his message to Biden, Zelenskyy told reporters he wanted to say thank you, then joked that he would ask for more Patriot missile systems. Biden, for his part, hasn’t shut the door on that.

“We’re going to give Ukraine everything it needs to defend itself, to succeed,” Biden said.