Ukraine’s Zelensky arrives in Washington to request ‘weapons, weapons and extra weapons’Yesterday

Joe Biden promised Volodymyr Zelensky that American army help to Kyiv will proceed “so long as it takes” to defeat Russia’s aggression amid a whirlwind go to by the Ukrainian President to Washington to shore up assist from his nation’s high ally.

Mr. Zelensky, making his first overseas journey Wednesday since Moscow’s February invasion, met with the U.S. President and national-security officers on the White Home earlier than giving a Wednesday night tackle to legislators, two weeks forward of a extra isolationist Congress taking workplace.

In his speech on the Capitol, he reminded the U.S. how efficient its assist has been up to now – and what an abject failure Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion has been. “In opposition to all odds and doom and gloom situations, Ukraine didn’t fall. Ukraine is alive and kicking. We defeated Russia within the battle for the minds of the world.”

The journey comes at a vital second. After Ukraine recaptured swaths of territory this previous summer time and autumn, Russia started an aerial bombardment meant to knock out electrical energy and different infrastructure amid the onset of winter. Mr. Zelensky has repeatedly pleaded with the U.S. and different NATO international locations for extra assist to guard in opposition to the onslaught.

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At a joint information convention with Mr. Zelensky earlier, Mr. Biden stated Mr. Putin “has no intention of stopping this merciless warfare,” signalling that he anticipated the combating to proceed for a very long time.

“You’ll by no means stand alone,” Mr. Biden instructed Mr. Zelensky. “The American individuals have been with you each step of the best way. And we are going to stick with you, we are going to stick with you for so long as it takes.”

Mr. Biden, who has made army assist for Ukraine to include Mr. Putin’s expansionism his central foreign-policy precedence, introduced that the U.S. army would give Ukraine Patriot missiles as a part of the most recent US$1.85-billion package deal of defence help.

Congress can also be anticipated to approve an extra US$45-billion – greater than doubling the entire quantity of assist despatched to Ukraine over the previous two years – as a part of a finances invoice later this week. However the newly elected Republican majority within the Home of Representatives has expressed skepticism about persevering with assist.

In his speech, Mr. Zelensky warned that, if different democratic international locations fail to assist Ukraine now, they’ll quickly be combating authoritarians on their very own shores.

“The battle just isn’t just for the life, safety and freedom of Ukrainians, or some other nation Russia makes an attempt to overcome. This wrestle will outline in what world our kids and grandchildren dwell,” stated Mr. Zelensky, who wore the identical olive-green, military-style outfit that has change into his trademark through the warfare. “Your cash just isn’t charity. It’s an funding within the international safety and democracy that we deal with in probably the most accountable means,” he stated.

Mr. Zelensky has dominated out negotiating with Russia till Mr. Putin agrees to offer again all of the territory he has taken from Ukraine since 2014 and pay compensation for warfare damages. Along with weapons, Mr. Zelensky stated he and Mr. Biden mentioned additional sanctions on Russia and a convention to construct assist for Ukraine’s peace calls for.

Congress gave the Ukrainian President a heat welcome, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi describing him as “courageous, brave” and praised his residents “for what they’re doing to guard democracy.” Mitch McConnell, the Republican chief within the Senate, reiterated his staunch assist for continued army funding: “Persevering with our assist for Ukraine is morally proper, however it’s not solely that. Additionally it is a direct funding in chilly, arduous, American pursuits.”

Members of each events gave Mr. Zelensky a number of sustained, cheering standing ovations.

How lengthy this reception will final is an open query. Republican Home chief Kevin McCarthy, prone to change into Speaker subsequent month, reiterated his earlier place on Ukraine late Wednesday: “I by no means assist a clean cheque,” he stated. Far-right legislators Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz sat stone-faced throughout Mr. Zelensky’s speech.

For the reason that begin of the warfare, Mr. Zelensky, a former comic and gifted communicator, has deftly labored to construct worldwide assist for his nation, alternately thanking leaders for his or her assist and making an ethical case for them to do extra.

He took the same tack Wednesday, evaluating Ukraine’s wrestle with American battles in opposition to Nazi Germany and the British at Saratoga. “Courageous American troopers held their strains and fought again Hitler’s forces through the Christmas of 1944. Courageous Ukrainian troopers are doing the identical to Putin’s forces this Christmas,” he stated.

Whereas U.S. “assist is essential,” he stated Ukraine wants extra. “Now we have artillery, sure,” he stated. “Is it sufficient? Fairly truthfully, not likely.”

The Patriots, for which he had lengthy requested, are supposed to take down Russian warplanes and ballistic missiles at larger altitudes than the Ukrainians’ present air defence techniques.

Lately returned from Bakhmut, a Donbas area city simply liberated by Ukrainian troops, Mr. Zelensky gave Mr. Biden a fight medal an artillery captain there had requested be handed on to the U.S. President. To Congress, Mr. Zelensky offered a Ukrainian flag signed by town’s defenders, which Ms. Pelosi and Vice-President Kamala Harris unfurled.

The White Home stated the assembly with Mr. Zelensky, which coincided with the three hundredth day of the invasion, got here collectively shortly. It was first mentioned 10 days in the past, an invite was issued final week and Mr. Zelensky accepted Sunday. For safety causes, every little thing was saved secret till the evening earlier than.

Mr. Biden and Mr. Zelensky have met as soon as earlier than, in September, 2021, and spoken by telephone dozens of instances since. Mr. Zelensky’s final overseas journey was in February, a couple of days earlier than the Russian invasion, when he met with Ms. Harris and different leaders in Germany.

Talking to reporters Wednesday, Mr. Biden famous that Mr. Zelensky, who’s Jewish, was celebrating the fourth evening of Hanukkah, a pageant that marks the triumph of sunshine over darkness. Mr. Zelensky, for his half, delivered a extra succinct vacation message.

“Merry Christmas,” he instructed Congress, “and Glad Victorious New Yr.”