Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United States with the aim of securing the $60 billion (about 55 billion euros) military aid package for Ukraine, which the US Congress is reluctant to approve. On this, his third visit to the US since the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian president has scheduled a meeting at the White House with his colleague Joe Biden for today.
According to the White House, Zelensky’s visit is intended to “underscore the United States’ unwavering commitment to supporting the Ukrainian people in their defense against Russia’s brutal invasion.” Yesterday, Zelensky said on North American soil that Ukraine is counting on the United States and that the delays in military aid are “dreams come true” for the Russian leader.
“Putin must lose,” the Ukrainian president said in a speech at the National Defense University in Washington. “You can count on Ukraine and we hope to be able to count on you too,” he emphasized.
In a reference to disputes in Congress over a new military aid package for Ukraine, Zelensky said: “If anyone is inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, it is only Putin and his supporters. “They see their dreams come true when they see the delays or some scandals and… when the support of the freedom fighters decreases,” Zelensky said.
Today, in addition to meeting with Biden at the White House, the President of Ukraine also scheduled meetings with congressional leaders, including Republican Mike Johnson, recently elected leader of the House of Representatives, where the climate on the far right of the Republican party has taken a strong stance against Ukraine.
The danger of the Hungarian blockade
On another political level, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister warned yesterday of the “devastating consequences” if the European Union does not reach a consensus on opening negotiations on the country’s accession to the bloc, a topic that should be discussed this year during the European Union. Councilweek.
“I don’t even want to talk about the devastating consequences that will occur if the European Council does not take a decision, not only for Ukraine, but also for enlargement,” Dmytro Kuleba said at the entrance to a diplomacy meeting. leaders of the EU countries, in Brussels.
In June 2022, the EU granted formal membership status to Ukraine and presented an initial reform plan to move negotiations forward. “We have contributed to the work. We hope that the EU will do its part,” Kuleba continued, commenting on the divisions among the 27.
At stake is the position of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who threatens to block the discussion because he believes that the EU should first start a “strategic debate” on relations with Ukraine and only then make a decision on possible accession.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday referred to the conversation he had with Orbán in Argentina on Sunday, on the sidelines of President Javier Milei’s inauguration, saying it was a direct exchange about Europe. “On the sidelines of the ceremony I spoke with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. It was a very direct conversation, focused on European issues,” Zelenskiy said, without revealing further details about the dialogue he held with Orbán. But the truth is that the images of the two leaders arguing intensely and without interpreters in the room assigned to them to watch Milei’s inauguration provoked speculation about the content of the conversation.
Apart from Hungary, Ukraine enjoys broad support within the EU bloc, both in its campaign to defeat Russia and in its bid to join the EU. Yesterday, the German chancellor warned that the war would likely “continue for a long time.” “That is why it is important to formulate a long-term perspective in which we are prepared to support Ukraine for as long as necessary and to the extent necessary,” said Olaf Scholz.
Vladimir Putin, the German leader continued, “hopes that the willingness of our countries to do what is necessary and formulate the necessary support will decrease.” “It would be a very important message to tell him: don’t count on it.”
Russian presidential elections in the occupied territories
Russian-occupied territories in eastern and southern Ukraine will take part in Russia’s presidential elections in March, the election commission announced yesterday in the vote that should mark Vladimir Putin’s re-election.
It should be recalled that Russia has already organized several elections in the territories – Zaporizhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Lugansk – that it annexed in September 2022 and only partially controls, with the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stating last week that organizing elections in these regions “contrary to international law”.
Source: DN
