Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House on Thursday to gather more support from its Western allies. President Biden told President Zelensky of Ukraine that the United States would be “staying with you” as the country faces continuous attacks from Russia.
Biden assured its support to Ukraine despite opposition from some Republican lawmakers to sending billions more in aid. Zelesky also warned that Kyiv will lose its war against the Russian invasion if the flow of billions of dollars in aid gets cut.
“Mr. President, we’re with you, we’re staying with you,” Biden told Zelenskiy before reaching across the table and shaking his hand after two hours of talks.
The United States has been at the forefront of Western support for Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion in February 2022 and has sent about $114bn in security and humanitarian aid to help Zelensky’s government since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022.
Congress had decided to give another $24 billion as aid to Ukraine despite distress among US citizens for the long war. The conservative Republican also opposed the funding in the Congress to which President Biden said “I’m counting on the good judgment of the United States Congress.”
US is the largest military funder of Ukraine among its Western allies and President Biden has pledged on Thursday the United States will stay with Kyiv for the long haul.
The US Congress has already approved $113 billion in military, economic, humanitarian and other aid for Ukraine, including around $70 billion for security, intelligence and other war-fighting costs. President Biden came forward with a new military package worth $325 million and lauded the bravery of the Ukrainian people when he and Zelenskiy met earlier in the Oval Office.
“Together with our partners and allies, the American people are determined to see to it to that (we do) all we can to ensure that the world stands with you,” Biden said in comments at the start of their meeting.
Ukraine has been specifically interested in air defence and has been hoping that the Americans would provide a powerful weapon called the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, which can strike targets 190 miles away with a warhead containing about 375 pounds of explosives, as per media reports.
President Zelesky says that Ukraine has to have them. “Because we don’t have another way out,” he says.
Biden has said that the first American Abrams tanks will be delivered to Ukraine next week. Washington would also send Ukraine a second Raytheon-built Hawk air defence battery and related equipment. A U.S. official said the equipment would arrive in Ukraine soon, reports suggest.
Aftr tyhe end of discussions in the White House, President zelensky tokk to ‘X’ to express his gratitute to US for the help it has been providing to the war torn country. He call this step historic in his tweet and said that he sensed trust in both parties which fosters unity.
He also said that this meeting was very important and he maintained transparency throughtout by giving candid answers to direct questions from the congress.
This was a very important visit to Washington, D.C.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 22, 2023
New military aid package. Long-term agreement on joint defense production. This historic step will create new industrial base and jobs for both of our nations.
My day began on Capitol Hill with candid and extensive… pic.twitter.com/Ro24E6k86D
Zelensky further thanked President Biden and wrote “I thank President Joe Biden, both parties and chambers of US Congress, and the entire American people for their unwavering support.”
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