Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wearing fatigues, paid a wartime visit to the United States. On Wednesday afternoon, he met US President Joe Biden and his team at the White House, and in the evening addressed Congress at a time when lawmakers are debating tens of billions in additional aid to his country. .
“We will support Ukraine in pursuing a just peace,” Biden told Zelenskyy. “You’re the man of the year,” and indeed, a lot has changed in the year since Russia began assembling troops on the Ukrainian border.
The United States is the first country since the Russian invasion that the Ukrainian president has visited. Zelenskyy, in some ways, was overdue for a visit, especially as Biden and his team mobilized unprecedented military and financial aid for Ukraine.
In his evening address to Congress, Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for America’s unwavering support and received bipartisan applause. “I thank every American family who cherishes the warmth of their home,” he said. “I thank President Biden and both parties in the Senate and the House for your invaluable assistance.”
By speaking in English, the Ukrainian president ensured that his message reached Americans directly and sometimes provided a bit of a punch. (“Ukraine has not fallen. Ukraine is alive and vibrant,” he said.) There was even an exchange of gifts: Zelenskyy brought a Ukrainian flag that the soldiers on the lines front in the Donbass had given him the day before, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi presented him with the American flag that had flown above the Capitol today.
Above all, Zelenskyy argued to lawmakers that Ukraine’s struggle is part of a global fight for freedom and democracy. He also pointed out that Putin’s threat of violence transcends Ukraine – and that Iran’s delivery of drones to Russia poses a greater challenge to America and its allies.
“Your money is not charity. It is an investment in global security and democracy,” Zelenskyy said.
Congress is set to approve an additional $45 billion in aid to Ukraine and NATO allies, on top of the more than $65 billion in humanitarian and military aid already sent since the start of the conflict. Along with Zelenskyy’s visit, Biden also announced a $1.85 billion military package including a battery of Patriot missiles to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russian attacks. “Thank you from our ordinary people to your ordinary people,” Zelenskyy said earlier at the White House.
Since Russia attacked Ukraine nearly a year ago, Biden has also rejuvenated NATO and worked to ensure the continued support of European partners for Ukraine. Internationally, the Biden administration has used the diplomatic prowess and clout of the United States as a convener for the benefit of Ukraine. The United States has been extraordinarily successful on this front, imposing intensive economic sanctions on Russia; transnational efforts to stem the ripple effects of war, including on energy and food security; and United Nations votes that have sometimes embarrassed Russia.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Tony Blinken posted a meme on social media that read, “The whole world stands with Ukraine. This is not entirely true. China and India are among the rising powers that have not taken sides, and the fact that so many countries have not signed on to sanctions against Russia is reminiscent of the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War.
All of this means that while Ukraine has strong allies in its war against Russia, the country, as Zelenskyy has said at virtual events around the world this year, needs all the support it can get. Hence the trip to Washington, DC.
Why Ukraine’s president is visiting the United States
Timing-wise, this is the best time to visit given the current relative stagnation of war. After Ukraine’s stunning counter-offensive this fall, the conflict continues, with Russia launching attacks against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. But the war has stabilized on some levels, and Zelenskyy has apparently decided that these assaults do not require presidential attention in the country.
The ongoing flurry of Russian attacks suggests that more monetary and diplomatic support will be needed. The war isn’t exactly at a stalemate, but it looks increasingly like a protracted fight is likely. To see also : Editorial Summary: United States – The Durango Herald. Ukraine’s infrastructure and industries have suffered, and the country needs at least $3 billion a month just to keep its economy running. And that’s why Washington’s enduring role is so important.
Overall, Zelenskyy’s message is that Ukraine is grateful for US support – and will need much more.
This commitment goes beyond specific weapon systems. The visit is intended to “prepare the American public and Congress for the potential that this is going to go on for some time and that Ukraine will have to be a long-term aid priority,” says Samuel Charap, a political scientist at the Rand Corporation. .
It’s been an intensive day of public messaging, but perhaps more important is the tenor of the closed-door conversations between Biden and Zelenskyy. We don’t have an in-depth view of their relationship, and the Biden administration has been particularly tight-lipped, giving us even less insight than usual into the inner workings of such a high-profile relationship. There were tensions behind the scenes. In June, Biden lost his temper in a phone call as Zelenskyy increasingly asked for help, according to an NBC report.
This is not Zelenskyy’s first visit to the Biden White House, and he has coordinated closely with the United States throughout the dispute. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, visited Kyiv last month. Zelenskyy addressed Congress virtually in March and Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska addressed chambers in July. The two take issue with then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s 2014 speech, which called on the United States to provide his country with weapons at a time when the Obama administration limited its aid to non-lethal items. “You can’t win the war with blankets. You cannot keep the peace with blankets,” Poroshenko said.
Zelenskyy must ensure that the Biden administration and Congress lead the coalition the United States had in place through 2023 and beyond. He will have had a successful visit if Americans — especially Republicans in Congress — grasp the immediate urgency to provide Ukraine with advanced weapons and the deeper sense of Ukraine’s long-term perseverance in the face of turmoil. Russian intransigence.
“The most likely endgame involves a new frozen conflict,” says Council on Foreign Relations researcher Charles Kupchan. “At least for now, Putin seems to be doubling down and not backing down.”
Why Zelenskyy came now
Although Ukraine needs continued assistance, Zelensky’s visit comes at a time when future US support is somewhat uncertain. See the article : Welcome prisoner exchange in Ukraine – United States Department of State.
Other than reports from the June phone call between Zelenskyy and Biden, there is no indication the executive is planning to scale back its commitment to its Eastern European ally. Congress is another story, however – and this branch is ultimately the one that decides how much money Ukraine will receive.
Republicans, some of whom are less open to help from Ukraine, are poised to retake the House next year. While a senior administration official said the White House remains confident that support for additional military and humanitarian aid will continue to be bipartisan, a segment of the House Republican caucus has already expressed opposition.
Conservative lawmakers, including Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), are among those who have questioned the need for more aid, while other leading Republicans , including Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, the highest-ranking GOP member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, backed the decision to send more support. This split in the conference could affect future aid to Ukraine given the narrowness of the Republican majority in the new term.
Previously, 57 House Republicans, or about a quarter of the conference, voted against sending $40 billion in aid last May, citing the need to cut spending amid high inflation. Likely House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also expressed reservations about sending a “blank cheque” to Ukraine in the future, although he later explained that he meant that there should be more oversight and accountability of the funds.
The White House maintains that Zelenskyy’s visit is only to underscore continued US solidarity with Ukraine as the conflict lingers into its second year, according to the administration official. “This is not about sending a message to any particular political party, this is about sending a message to Putin and sending a message to the world that America will be there for Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the official told reporters. asked if the remarks were aimed at Republicans reluctant to endorse more aid. However, involving the GOP in any future funding requests will be critical to maintaining military aid.
Next year, the GOP-led House and Democratic-led Senate will likely have to compromise in order to advance aid to Ukraine; to what extent they will be able to do so is somewhat uncertain. Many Republicans, including key leaders like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have expressed strong support for Ukraine. But opposition to these bills in the House could jeopardize their passage.
For their part, Democrats stressed this week that the stakes are high if Congress were to end, or even limit, its support for Ukraine. “America and our allies have proudly answered your call to impose devastating sanctions on Putin and ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs to win this war,” House Speaker Nancy wrote. Pelosi, in a letter officially inviting Zelenskyy to speak. “The fight for Ukraine is the fight for democracy itself.”
Update, Dec. 21, 8:30 p.m. ET: This story was originally published the afternoon of Dec. 21 and has been updated with details from Zelenskyy’s speech to Congress.
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What does Zelensky mean?
What nationality is the surname Zelensky?
How common is the last name Zelensky?
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Why is Ukraine not a party of NATO?
Why does NATO not intervene in Ukraine?
Google Pay. See the article : The United States Speaks Clearly About Russia’s War in Ukraine. You can also contribute via
What is the Ukrainian animal?
Zelensky is a Slavic male surname. Its Russian spelling Зеленский is romanized Zelenski, Zelenskii, Zelenskiy or Zelensky, and comes from the toponym Zelyonoe (Зелёное), meaning “green”. Its female counterpart is Зеленская (Zelenskaya or Zelenskaia).
What is the meaning of Zelensky? Zelensky is a Slavic male surname. Its Russian spelling ÐеленÑкий is romanized Zelenski, Zelenskii, Zelenskiy or Zelensky, and comes from the toponym Zelyonoe (ÐелÑное), which means “green”. Its female counterpart is ÐеленÑÐºÐ°Ñ (Zelenskaya or Zelenskaia).
What does the Ukrainian symbol represent?
Belarusian and Jewish Ukrainian (from Belarus and Ukraine): Dwelling name for someone from a place called Zelenki or Zelenka in Ukraine and Zelena in Belarus from an East Slavic word meaning “green”.
What is Ukraine’s mascot?
Square
What is the Ukrainian bird?
Impact
What language does Ukraine speak?
Frequency
Russia
What are the top 3 languages spoken in Ukraine?
7,810
- 1:18 454
- Belarus
- 321
Is Ukrainian and Russian same language?
1:29 598
