President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine accomplished a three-day go to to the United States on Thursday, after addressing the U.N. General Assembly and attempting to shore up continued assist from Washington. Here are 4 key moments from his journey.
A warning on the U.N.
Mr. Zelensky gave on Tuesday his first in-person tackle to the annual gathering of the General Assembly for the reason that begin of Russia’s full-scale invasion. He introduced Russia’s aggression as a menace to the world, saying that every one nations have a vested curiosity in serving to defeat Russia.
“The goal of the present war against Ukraine is to turn our land, our people, our lives, our resources into a weapon against you, against the international rules-based order,” Mr. Zelensky informed the dignitaries. He added that Russia was weaponizing necessities like meals and power “not only against our country, but against all of yours, as well.”
A scathing speech
Speaking to the Security Council, Mr. Zelensky criticized the United Nations for failing to forestall or resolve conflicts just like the one destroying his nation and referred to as for Russia to be stripped of the veto energy it has as a everlasting member of the council.
“Ukrainian soldiers are doing with their blood what the U.N. Security Council should do by its voting,” Mr. Zelensky stated on Wednesday, including that “veto power in the hands of the aggressor is what has pushed the U.N. into deadlock.” Any proposed change to the veto rule would itself be topic to a veto.
Lobbying Washington for support
The Ukrainian president met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Thursday, the place dozens of Republicans have voiced their opposition to sending extra weapons to Ukraine. “If we don’t get the aid, we will lose the war,” Mr. Zelensky stated, in line with Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority chief and a Democrat.
Mr. Zelensky appeared to have made little speedy progress in persuading the Republican management of the House of Representatives to approve a further $24 billion in navy and humanitarian support to Ukraine.
A gathering with Biden
Mr. Zelensky completed his go to on the White House, the place he met with President Biden on Thursday after receiving a $325 million air-defense package deal from present funding. Mr. Biden additionally stated that subsequent week the U.S. would start transport over Abrams tanks, which Ukraine has lengthy sought and which the Biden administration in January agreed to donate. Mr. Biden acknowledged that he had little selection however to place confidence in a bipartisan breakthrough for continued assist for Ukraine.
“I’m counting on the good judgment of the United States Congress,” Mr. Biden stated. “There’s no alternative.”
Source: www.nytimes.com