WASHINGTON: Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to the US Tuesday to meet with US President Joe Biden and request his case before Republicans hesitating at sending additional money for his war against Moscow, amid warnings help will run out in weeks.
President Biden and President Zelensky “will discuss Ukraine’s immediate needs” as it fights off a Russian attack, and “the vital significance of Washington’s continued support at this key moment,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
On the other hand, the Ukrainian president office said the two sides will focus on major matters such as “joint projects on the production of arms and air defense systems between the two countries. It added that Biden and Zelensky will also discuss means to enhance coordination of efforts between the two sides in future.
Zelensky to Meet with President Biden: White House
In a flurry of diplomatic efforts following the White House announced Zelensky’s trip, an aide for Mike Johnson stated that the new Republican speaker for the House of Representatives — who has been making efforts to link Ukraine help to funding for American border security — will also hold a meeting with Zelensky on Tuesday.
According to AFP, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell invited President Zelensky to speak at an all-Senators meeting Tuesday — one week following various Republican lawmakers angrily walked out of a Ukraine briefing that he had also been due to address through video link.
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Earlier, Republicans blocked $106 billion in emergency help primarily for Kyiv after conservatives hesitated at the omission of immigration reforms they had demanded as part of the package.
