Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, will be visiting Washington, D.C. for the third time since the Russian invasion began in February 2022; his most recent visit was in September. Tuesday is the planned visit date. There are a lot of important things to address with important U.S. leaders on the agenda.
Zelensky is scheduled to speak to an assembly of all U.S. senators; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell are arranging this meeting. In addition, a meeting with the Ukrainian leader has been confirmed by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
President Zelensky’s visit, which takes place during a critical time when a major aid package for Ukraine is still waiting in Congress, has been formally announced by the White House. Congress is delaying ratification of a $111 billion package that provides funding for humanitarian help in Gaza, counter-drug trafficking activities along the border between the United States and Mexico, and support for Ukraine.
In a recent address, President Biden underlined the seriousness of the situation and warned that if the $64 billion aid package intended expressly for Ukraine is not passed, there is a chance that the United States may fight Russia militarily in Europe. According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the goal of the visit is to reaffirm America’s steadfast support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
Presidents Zelensky and Biden are anticipated to talk about the importance of continued US support for Ukraine as well as its current needs. For the next year, they are also scheduled to investigate cooperation, with a particular emphasis on cooperative projects in the development of weapons and air defense systems.
This visit comes after philanthropist Alexander Soros recently visited Kiev, where he established a partnership with the Open Society Foundations and made a $1 million donation to First Lady Zelenska’s organization. Soros’s visit highlights his position as one of Ukraine’s most important and independent backers.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, Ukraine is still under a lot of military pressure. According to reports on Saturday, Russia carried out about 100 airstrikes on Ukrainian territory in a single day. First Lady Zelenska has delivered a forceful statement emphasizing the catastrophic consequences for Ukrainian civilians in the event that Western military assistance is not provided.