Washington: President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky He will meet US leader Joe Biden in Washington on Wednesday and address Congress, sending a strong message of Western solidarity to Russia during his visit to the White House.
The secretly scheduled visit comes on the same day Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet with his top military officials to assess the war’s dire consequences so far. Ukraine And set goals for the next year.
This will be Zelinsky’s first visit outside Ukraine. Russian forces attacked. In February, when they planned a rapid takeover of Kyiv and much of the country.
Instead, Washington’s visit comes on the 300th day of a war that has seen Russian forces held back by a recalcitrant Ukrainian army backed by Western arms, forced to retreat from captured territory. And struggling to avoid further setbacks.
White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the visit would demonstrate America’s unwavering commitment to support Ukraine.
Patriot missiles for Ukraine
Zielinski will visit the White House where Biden will announce a new weapons package worth nearly $2 billion that a senior administration official said will include Patriot air defense missiles.
The Patriot missiles are believed to be critical in helping deter Russia’s punitive missile and drone attacks on Kyiv’s infrastructure.
Zielinski will then address a joint session of Congress, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said will have “a special focus on democracy.”
The visit was quietly planned, starting with a Dec. 11 phone call between Biden and Zelinsky, followed by a formal invitation a week earlier and confirmation of the visit on Sunday.
Details of the visit emerged on Tuesday afternoon, with officials stressing to US media that there were still security concerns over Zielinski’s trip.
In the White House talks, Biden and Zelensky will discuss arms and training provided by the United States and allies, sanctions and other pressures on Russia, and economic and humanitarian aid needed by Ukraine.
“They will discuss every element of the conflict, including the battlefield situation and the question of where the war goes from here,” the official said.
The official added that the visit would send Putin “a strong message of unity and commitment from the White House, from Washington, from the free world, from all nations that support Ukraine.”
But that does not include pressuring Zelenskyi to negotiate with Putin, the official stressed.
A visit to the front lines
Zelenskiy flew to the United States after a risky visit to the front lines in Bakhmut, where both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the past two months of constant firing and shelling.
Brutal trench warfare and artillery battles around Bakhmut – once known for its vineyards and salt mines – have flattened large parts of the city and its surroundings.
“Here in Donbass, you are protecting the whole of Ukraine,” Zelensky told the Ukrainian fighters.
“It’s not just Bakhmut, it’s Bakhmut fort,” he said while honoring Ukrainian soldiers.
The soldiers gave Zelensky a Ukrainian flag with their signatures on it and asked him to present it to Biden and the US Congress.
Zielinski said they told him: “We have a difficult situation, the enemy is increasing his numbers. Our people are brave but we need more weapons.”