Washington — President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced a united entrance in opposition to Russian aggression on the White House on Wednesday, with Mr. Biden asserting the U.S. will ship billions of {dollars} in additional army assist to bolster Ukrainian forces and repel Russian airstrikes.
At a press convention, the U.S. president mentioned he would proceed to help Ukraine “as long as it takes,” and denounced Russian assaults on Ukrainian infrastructure because the brutal winter chilly units in.
“We should be clear about what Russia is doing — it is purposefully attacking Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, destroying the systems that provide heat and light to the Ukrainian people during the coldest, darkest part of the year. Russia is using winter as a weapon,” Mr. Biden mentioned, standing subsequent to Zelenskyy within the White House East Room. “It’s important for the American people and for the world to hear directly from you, Mr. President, about Ukraine’s fight and the need to continue to stand together through 2023.”
Asked what message he had for the American folks, Zelenskyy emphasised that “we have the same values.”
“We really fight for our common victory against this tyranny. And that is real life. And we will win. And I really want [to] win together. Not want — I am sure,” mentioned Zelenskyy, who alternated between talking in English and Ukrainian.
KEVIN LAMARQUE / REUTERS
Zelenskyy’s go to to Washington was his first identified journey exterior Ukraine within the 300 days for the reason that Russian invasion started. Mr. Biden rolled out the purple carpet for his Ukrainian counterpart, who wore a now-familiar uniform consisting of an olive-green sweatshirt, cargo pants and boots. The two first held a gathering within the Oval Office, the place Mr. Biden mentioned the U.S. “stands with the great people of Ukraine” and referred to as Zelenskyy a “great leader.”
After his conferences on the White House, Zelenskyy left for Capitol Hill, the place he was set to fulfill with congressional leaders and handle a joint assembly of Congress.
The journey got here collectively simply inside the final week, and the plans had been cloaked in secrecy given the extraordinary safety considerations that include a wartime chief touring exterior his nation.
Sitting within the Oval Office, Zelenskyy mentioned it was a “great honor” to be welcomed to the White House, and expressed his appreciation “from my heart, from the hearts of Ukrainians, all Ukrainians” for Mr. Biden’s “support and leadership.”
In a second that appeared to catch Mr. Biden off guard, Zelenskyy introduced him with a fight medal {that a} Ukrainian captain combating on the entrance strains had given him. “He’s very brave, and he said, ‘Give it to a very brave president,'” Zelenskyy mentioned, noting that the captain instructions a unit utilizing a weapons system supplied by the U.S.
Shortly earlier than Zelenskyy arrived, the State Department unveiled a brand new army assist bundle for Ukraine price $1.85 billion, bringing the entire army assist despatched to Ukraine to $22 billion. In a primary, the U.S. is sending the Ukrainians a Patriot missile battery, a classy air protection system that may repel Russian missiles and plane. The new bundle additionally contains hundred of hundreds of mortars and artillery shells, dozens of armored automobiles and specialised kits that tremendously improve the effectiveness and accuracy of bombs dropped from fighter jets.
“We’re going to continue to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, particularly air defense,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “And that’s why we’re going to be providing Ukraine with a Patriot missile battery and training your forces to be able to accurately use it.”
The Ukrainian president’s speech to Congress comes as U.S. lawmakers work to move a sweeping $1.7 trillion authorities spending bundle that features almost $45 billion in army, humanitarian and financial help for Ukraine. If permitted by Congress, it might be the newest tranche of emergency help supplied to Ukraine.
Lawmakers have allotted greater than $65 billion in whole assist, which incorporates monetary and humanitarian help, to Ukraine for the reason that invasion, although some House Republicans have expressed opposition to persevering with direct funding to the nation. The new funding would carry U.S. help to over $100 billion.