Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced today upon arrival in Washington that assistance to Ukraine’s air defense will be a priority in talks with US authorities, including his counterpart Joe Biden.
Zelenskiy marked his arrival in Washington on social media after participating in New York at the UN General Assembly and a Security Council meeting on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“During my meetings, air defense will be one of the top priorities”wrote Zelensky about the planned talks with Biden and other US leaders.
Olena @ZelenskaUA and I arrived in Washington, DC
Important meetings ahead.
Last night Russia launched another massive missile attack on Ukraine. I thank all our rescuers for their immediate response.
We must work together to completely deprive Russia of its terrorist…
– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 21, 2023
Zelensky wants to ensure that US support for Ukraine continues after positive sentiment towards Kiev appears to have waned since the Republican opposition took control of one of the houses of parliament.
The Ukrainian leader is expected to meet with the leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties, with the French agency AFP highlighting the meeting with the Republican head of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, as the most difficult.
‘I have questions for him. Can he explain how much money we have already spent? What is the strategy for victory?’the conservative leader said on Tuesday, under pressure from the party’s right wing to cut funding for Kiev.
The financial aspect is further complicated by the risk that the US budget will be paralyzed in the near future if delegates fail to agree on a provisional law before October 1.
Part of the obstacle in the discussions, according to AFP, is the budget for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The White House said on Wednesday that it is crucial that Congress releases the $24 billion (22.5 billion euros, at current exchange rates) that the Biden administration has requested to support Kiev.
Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to visit the Pentagon, the defense headquarters, on Thursday before being received at the White House.
This will be followed by a meeting between the two presidents in the Oval Office and then an extended meeting with delegations from both countries.
Zelensky was in Washington on December 21, 10 months after Russia invaded Ukraine, on what was his first trip abroad since the start of the war.
Source: DN
