Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet U.S. President Joe Biden, address Congress as war rages on
The Hindu
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is making his way to Washington for a summit with President Joe Biden to address a joint session of Congress on December 21
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was making his way to Washington on December 21 for a summit with President Joe Biden and an address to a joint session of Congress in his first known trip outside the country since Russia’s invasion began in February.
The highly sensitive trip is taking place after 10 months of a brutal war that has seen tens of thousands killed and wounded on both sides of the conflict, along with devastation for Ukrainian civilians. It also comes as U.S. lawmakers are set to vote on a year-end spending package that includes about $45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine and as the Pentagon prepares to send Patriot surface-to-air missiles to the country to defend itself.
Mr. Zelensky headed abroad after making a daring and dangerous trip on Dec. 20 to what he called the hottest spot on the 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) front line of the conflict, the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s contested Donetsk province. He praised Ukrainian troops for their “courage, resilience and strength” as artillery boomed in the background.
In a statement on Dec. 20 night, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Mr. Biden looks forward to the visit and that the address to Congress will demonstrate “the strong, bipartisan support for Ukraine.”
“The visit will underscore the United States’ steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes, including through the provision of economic, humanitarian, and military assistance," she said.
U.S. and Ukrainian officials have made clear they don’t envision an imminent resolution to the war and are preparing for fighting to continue for some time. Mr. Biden has repeated that while the U.S. will arm and train Ukraine, American forces will not be directly engaged in the conflict.
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