“Hero” welcome from Congress to the president of Ukraine – New aid of $1.85 billion with the Patriot system Biden announced earlier – What Zelensky asked for
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received a standing ovation on Capitol Hill for his speech to a special session of Congress to persuade lawmakers and senators to continue funding his country’s fight against Russian invaders.
Following his meeting at the White House with US President Joe Biden, Zelensky will be expected to address a bipartisan audience in his first known trip outside Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in late February.
After his meeting at the White House with US President Joe Biden, Zelenskiy will be asked to convince a bipartisan audience. Republicans have repeatedly expressed reservations about spending tens of billions of dollars on Ukraine.
Zelensky’s name will be added to a long list of leaders who have addressed a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The first was by King Kalakaua of Hawaii in 1874. In wartime, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani addressed the US Congress. The relevant list also includes royals and Pope Francis, the only head of the Roman Catholic Church to have ascended to the speaker’s podium.
It’s also one of the last times House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will preside over the session before Republicans officially take over the majority on Jan. 3.
Planning for Zelensky’s visit and speech to the US Congress began in October, when Pelosi met with the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk.
Three hundred days after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky knows that Congress controls the “purse” of the United States. Zelensky’s historic visit to Washington coincides with a new package of US military aid to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles. The Ukrainian president also aims to send a message to Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin that the US and its NATO allies remain on Ukraine’s side.
The colors of the Ukrainian flag dominate the Congress during Zelensky’s reception. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi regularly wears a pin with the flags of the United States and Ukraine. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer arrived in a blue suit and yellow tie, describing Zelensky as “a leader who is fighting for his life, the survival of his country and Democracy.”
The Ukrainian president, after expressing his gratitude for the continued support of the United States in Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, assured them that Ukraine is “alive and kicking” as he said.
A key element of Zelenksi’s speech was the next aid package. “Your money is not charity.” “It’s an investment in global security and democracy,” Zelensky said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky to the US Capitol on Wednesday night as part of the Ukrainian president’s visit to Washington and shortly before his historic address to Congress.
Join His Excellency @ZelenskyyUa, President of Ukraine and me at the United States Capitol ahead of his address to a Joint Meeting of Congress. https://t.co/pdiEHGwKjP
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 21, 2022
It is my distinct privilege to welcome the President @ZelenskyyUa to the United States Capitol and reaffirm America’s commitment: we will stand with Ukraine in the fight for freedom until the war is won. pic.twitter.com/nQYARAk8iD
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 22, 2022
Biden announced new military aid to Ukraine of 1.8 billion with Patriot system
Earlier, US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky had a private meeting at the White House, while a little later they held a joint press conference, during which the new aid package to Ukraine was officially announced.
During the press conference, the US president emphasized that the US and Ukraine have been in close contact since the war began, but underlined that it was “especially good to meet up close and look each other in the eye”.
At the same time, he announced $1.85 billion in aid to Ukraine with war hardware, including the Patriot system among others.
The United States will continue to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capability, US President Joe Biden assured earlier in their meeting, welcoming his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, to the White House.
The US president reiterated the need to reach a peace deal that would be “fair” to Kyiv.
For his part, the president of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to his American counterpart for the multibillion-dollar US military aid for his country to face the Russian invasion.
The United States will strengthen Ukraine with another package of military aid, estimated at $1.85 billion, as it was announced earlier by the head of American diplomacy, Anthony Blinken.
“It’s a great honor to be here,” Zelensky said upon his arrival at the White House, presenting a medal to Biden.
“The Ukrainians continue to impress the world,” commented the American president.
The president of Ukraine will later visit the Congress, where he will deliver a speech at 19:30 (local time, 02:30 Greek time).
This is Zelensky’s first visit abroad since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Zelensky presented a medal to Biden
A military medal was awarded by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to his American counterpart Joe Biden, as a sign of gratitude for the valuable US military assistance to his homeland.
As Zelensky told Biden, the particular medal was given to him the day before by a Ukrainian soldier fighting on the front lines, describing him as a “real hero.” He even noted that he was operating one of the US HIMARS multiple launch missile systems.
Ahead of his historic trip to the United States, the soldier told Zelensky to “Give this to the president,” as the Ukrainian president told Biden, handing him the medal in a velvet-lined case.
The US president accepted the medal, calling it a “great honor” and expressed a desire to reciprocate by offering the Ukrainian soldier an American medal from Iraq where his son, Beau Biden, had fought.
“You are the man of the year,” commented the US president, referring to Zelensky’s choice for the relevant cover of Time magazine.
Biden: Zelensky wants ‘fair’ peace deal, but Putin has no intention of ending war
US President Joe Biden said today he got the sense that his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky was open to pursuing a “fair” peace deal to end the war, adding that Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin had shown no sign of intent. to stop the war.
“You are open to pursuing a fair peace agreement,” Biden told Zelensky during a joint news conference the two leaders gave after their meeting at the White House.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin “has not the slightest intention of stopping this brutal war,” added Joe Biden.
For his part, Volodymyr Zelensky clarified that a “fair” peace agreement means no compromise regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
