2023-09-21 21:23:32
During a visit to Washington, the Ukrainian president urgently called for further arms aid for his country. Zelensky first met the leaders of Biden’s Democrats and the conservative Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives at the Capitol on Thursday.
The president said he had “very strong” discussions. Zelensky later said he was counting on the “long-term support” of the United States. “To win, we have to stand together. And win together.” At the White House, he thanked the USA for its support in the fight against “Russian terror”.
Archyde.com/Kevin Lamarque Biden promised new military aid to Ukraine, but the missiles Kiev was hoping for are not included
Biden’s security advisor Jake Sullivan had announced a new package of military aid for Kiev. However, he made it clear that the package does not include ATACMS missiles, which Zelenskyj wants. “President Biden will announce a new military aid package today,” he said. After careful consideration, Biden decided against supplying ATACMS missiles, said Sullivan. “But he doesn’t rule it out for the future either.”
“We had a great conversation”
Before his arrival at the White House, Zelensky met representatives of the US Congress. At the Capitol, the Ukrainian leader held talks with members of the Senate and House of Representatives about additional US aid to defend against the Russian war of aggression. “We had a great conversation,” Zelensky said after the meetings. The discussions were primarily about further help.
Zelensky warned senators of the dangers if no further funding was approved for Ukraine, said Democratic Majority Leader in the US Senate Chuck Schumer. His colleague from the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, agreed with him. “It is important that we stand behind Ukraine until victory is achieved,” said the Democrat.
Zelenskyj: “Very intensive exchange”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj spoke to senators and representatives at the US Capitol in Washington about continuing arms deliveries from the USA. “We had a great conversation,” said Zelenskyj after the meeting, which he described as an “intensive exchange.”
The Ukrainian president had already been a guest in Washington at the end of December. At that time he received a hero’s welcome and spoke to both chambers of Congress to the cheers of representatives and senators. Since the start of the war of aggression, the United States says it has provided more than $43 billion in military aid to Kiev – far more than any other country. There is also extensive economic aid.
Today the wind is different
But since Zelensky’s visit shortly before Christmas, the political situation in Washington has changed. The Republicans have been in charge in the US House of Representatives since January, and there is considerable skepticism within their ranks as to whether the US should continue to pump money on a large scale into a war with no end in sight. And so this time Zelensky met senators and representatives behind closed doors. A big speech fell through.
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy made it clear he rejected that request. “We don’t have time for a joint meeting,” US media quoted him as saying. McCarthy said he would ask Zelensky about the use of previous US funds. The US is being asked to “finance an endless conflict with unlimited resources,” wrote Republican Senator JD Vance on Twitter (X).
AP/POLITICO/Francis Chung On Thursday, Zelensky met with several politicians in the US Congress
The majority of Republicans in Congress support support for Ukraine. Right-wing hardliners in particular oppose it. “The US is wasting money we don’t have to pay for this war while the EU and other leaders are absent from the world stage,” said Republican Senator Roger Marshall. For this reason he also stayed away from the meeting with the Ukrainian president.
There is a dispute over the budget
All eyes are primarily on the House of Representatives. Unlike in the Senate, the Republicans have a majority in this chamber of parliament – but only a narrow one. This gives the hardliners in the party who oppose further aid to Ukraine particularly great power. They are putting pressure on their chairman, McCarthy, and driving him along. This is currently evident in the annual dispute over a new budget, which is also important for Ukraine.
Archyde.com/Albert Cheung A conversation with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was on the agenda
In this context, US President Biden had requested a new billion-dollar sum for Ukraine from Congress. It is unclear how his request will be granted. A new federal budget must be approved by the end of September, otherwise there is a risk of a “shutdown” – i.e. a standstill in government business. A bitter dispute is raging within the Republicans about this – it’s about various differences, including new aid to Ukraine.
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