Visit to the United States: Zelensky arrives at the Congress
Kyiv • UNN
Ukraine's President Zelenskiy arrives in the US Congress to seek approval of a critical aid package amid fears that US aid will stop and negotiations have reached an impasse.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the United States Congress, UNN reports citing Sky News.
According to the Voice of America, Zelensky is meeting with the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, and the leader of the Republican minority, Mitch McConnell. The meeting is held behind closed doors.
President Zelenskyi will also meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, his press secretary said.
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According to CNN, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington for talks at a critical moment, as the White House warns that American aid to Ukraine may imminently stop and negotiations on new aid have stalled in Congress.
President Joe Biden's invitation underscores the urgency to approve a new package worth tens of billions of dollars, as he and other administration officials warn that already approved U.S. aid will be exhausted by the end of the year.
Biden has requested about $60 billion in new aid to Ukraine, part of a larger emergency funding package that also includes aid to Israel and funds for border security. Republicans tried to use this request as leverage to get tough new rules restricting migration across the southern border of the United States.
Biden's team hopes that Zelenskiy will be able to convince lawmakers, and especially Republicans, of the need for additional aid to replenish his military coffers. Zelenskiy has long been considered by administration officials to be his country's most effective defender, and he has spent the 21 months since Russia's February 2022 invasion addressing international parliaments, assemblies, summits, and awards shows to drum up support.
On Monday, speaking at the National Defense University in Washington, Zelenskiy made a direct appeal for more security assistance, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin sees "his dreams coming true" as congressional delays continue.
