President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine says he is heading to Washington, D.C. for a Wednesday go to.
He introduced his journey in a tweet early Wednesday, saying, “On my way to the US to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities of Ukraine. In particular, @POTUS and I will discuss cooperation between Ukraine and the U.S. I will also have a speech at the Congress and a number of bilateral meetings.”
The White House mentioned in an announcement early Wednesday that President Biden invited his Ukrainian counterpart “to underscore the United States’ enduring commitment to Ukraine.”
According to the assertion, the 2 president will meet on the White House, then Zelenskyy “will address a joint session of Congress, demonstrating the strong, bipartisan support for Ukraine.”
“Three hundred days ago,” the assertion continued, “Russia launched a brutal assault towards Ukraine. In response, President Biden rallied the world to assist the folks of Ukraine as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“During the visit, President Biden will announce a significant new package of security assistance to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. The visit will underscore the United States’ steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes, including through the provision of economic, humanitarian, and military assistance.”
A senior administration official mentioned the bundle will quantity to “nearly $2 billion” and embody, for the primary time, a Patriot missile battery “which will be a critical asset to defend the Ukrainian people against Russia’s barbaric attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. We will train Ukrainian forces on how to operate the Patriot missile battery in a third country.”
The official mentioned Mr. Biden would guarantee Zelenskyy that the U.S. “will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes and that in doing so, that support will remain broad, deep, and bipartisan.”
The go to has been within the works since November. An earlier plan to go to the U.S. in September through the U.N. General Assembly was known as off as a result of conflict.
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, co-chair of the House Ukraine caucus, confirmed to CBS News there had been on-going, critical, behind-the-scenes efforts to convey Zelenskyy to Washington.
Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout by way of REUTERS
“We’d be very honored to have him visit. I’m amazed he can make it in view of the situation,” Kaptur mentioned. “It’d be a great gift to have him at the Capitol. We’re working with the leadership to be helpful. We personally understand if he cannot make it at the last minute.”
In a letter to her Democratic colleagues Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged her members to return to Washington and be “physically present” on the House’s session Wednesday. Punchbowl news was the primary to report that Zelenskky’s go to was the explanation for the sudden gathering.
“We are ending a very special session of the 117th Congress with legislation that makes progress for the American people as well as support for our Democracy,” Pelosi wrote. “Please be present for a very special focus on Democracy Wednesday night.”
During an handle to the Ukrainian folks, Zelenskyy mentioned this week is “extremely important” for Ukraine and steered he’d been requested to cross alongside a token of gratitude to the nation’s allies.
“Our fighters gave me our flag today and asked to pass it on to those whose decisions are very important for Ukraine, for all our warriors,” he mentioned. “We will definitely do it. We will definitely endure. We will definitely get the necessary support for Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy’s speech comes as Congress is working to cross a sweeping $1.7 trillion authorities spending bundle that features practically $45 billion in navy, humanitarian and financial help for Ukraine. The measure can be one of many last items of laws handed by the present Congress, and lawmakers had been transferring with urgency to clear the omnibus invoice earlier than a Friday deadline to avert a partial authorities shutdown.
The roughly $45 billion included for Ukraine is greater than the $37.7 billion requested by the White House in November and, if accredited by Congress, can be the newest tranche of emergency help supplied to Ukraine because it continues to combat Russia.
Lawmakers have allotted greater than $65 billion in assist to Ukraine for the reason that invasion, although some House Republicans have expressed opposition to persevering with direct funding to the nation. This new bundle would convey U.S. help to over $100 billion.
The Defense Department has additionally dedicated intensive navy gear, as of the tip of November, together with 38 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and ammunition, eight National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, 45 T-72B tanks, greater than 1,600 Stinger anti-aircraft programs and greater than 8,500 Javelin anti-armor programs, in addition to helicopters, armored autos and mine-resistant autos.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Mr. Biden and lawmakers for funding and safety help, however in March made an emotional plea for added weapons, together with air-defense programs. The Ukrainian president appeared nearly earlier than each chambers of Congress on the time and invoked key occasions in U.S. historical past — the 1941 assault on Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11, 2011, terror assaults — to additional underscore the necessity for extra assist.
Zelenskyy’s anticipated go to can be a part of his first journey exterior Ukraine since Russia invaded in late February, and would symbolize a daring determination to depart the nation amid the continuing conflict and Russian makes an attempt on his life. He met with Mr. Biden on the White House in early September 2021, and the 2 have spoken repeatedly by telephone within the months since Russia’s invasion, throughout which the U.S. President has expressed continued assist for Ukraine.
The White House has explored having Mr. Biden go to Ukraine a number of occasions however has tabled such plans amid safety considerations. But different senior U.S. officers, together with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, have visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv over the course of this 12 months.
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware mentioned Tuesday that Zelenskyy addressing Congress can be “the perfect ending to two years where President Biden has had some landmark successes, and a year where his biggest success internationally has been rallying our NATO allies to support the Ukrainian close.”
Alan He, Melissa Quinn, Caroline Linton and Brian Dakss contributed to this report.