Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on Wednesday marks a high point in ties between Ukraine and its most important ally, putting the spotlight on a relationship strengthened by Russia’s invasion, but not without some friction along the way. The Associated Press has the story:
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy meets Biden at White House
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at the White House to meet with US President Joe Biden. He was greeted by Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
The two leaders are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting.
“I am in Washington today to thank the American people, the President and the Congress for their much-needed support,” Zelenskyy posted on his official Instagram account after he landed. “And also to continue cooperation to bring our victory closer.” He said the visit would “strengthen resilience and defense capabilities” of Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden welcomes Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 21, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
This is Zelensky’s first foreign trip since the war began. The Ukrainian president was clad in his typical green-colored cargo pants and a sweatshirt with a small insignia of Ukraine’s coat of arms on it.
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcome Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 21, 2022. REUTERS/Leah
Later today, Zelensky will hold a news conference with Biden and address a joint meeting of Congress at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrives at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 21, 2022. REUTERS/Leah Millis
According to an updated advisory, Vice President Kamala Harris will attend Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to a joint meeting of Congress tonight at the US Capitol.
Zelensky is set to deliver the address at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky said Wednesday he is in Washington, DC, to thank the American people, US President Joe Biden and Congress for their “much-needed support.”
“I am in Washington today to thank the American people, the President and the Congress for their much-needed support. And also to continue cooperation to bring our victory closer,” Zelensky said in a post on his official Telegram channel.
“I will hold a series of negotiations to strengthen the resilience and defense capabilities of Ukraine. In particular, we will discuss bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and the United States of America with US President Joseph Biden,” he said.
“Next year, we must return the Ukrainian flag and freedom to our entire land, to all our people,” he said.
This is Zelensky’s first overseas visit since Russia invaded his country in late February.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the United States.
Zelensky landed at Joint Base Andrews, a separate source familiar said.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden via phone, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 11, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
He will visit the Oval Office this afternoon for extended talks with US President Joe Biden, who will announce he is sending nearly $2 billion in additional security assistance to Ukraine, including a sophisticated new air defense system.
The two will convene a White House news conference before Zelensky addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in prime time.
Tight security has been enforced around the short visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the US amid concerns that Russia wants to incapacitate the president, a source close to the Ukrainian leader told CNN on Wednesday.
According to the source, because of that ongoing threat, senior top government officials as well as embassy staff in the US were not informed about the schedule of Zelensky’s visit.
The source added that Zelensky had wanted to travel to the US for a few months, but certain factors had to be considered.
According to the source, the military risk had to be calculated to allow the Ukrainian president to make the short overseas trip without jeopardizing the military situation in the country.
Scheduling also had to be worked out with the White House to assess availability for it to happen, the source added.
The source told CNN that Zelensky did not want to travel if there had not been a significant development in the bilateral relationship between Ukraine and the United States. After confirmation of the Biden administration’s plan to send a new defense assistance package to Ukraine — which includes the Patriot missile defense systems — Zelensky viewed it as a major shift in the relationship between the two allies.
