2023-09-21 17:08:59
During a visit to the USA today, Ukrainian President Zelensky is scheduled to meet President Biden – and he comes with specific wishes. But it is also clear that the mood in Washington has changed since his last visit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj traveled to the US capital Washington to seek further support from his most important ally in the defense against Russia. After his arrival in the US Congress, the Democratic minority leader in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, accompanied him to the Capitol. Later, US President Joe Biden wants to receive Zelenskyj in the White House.
The 45-year-old comes to Washington with specific requests for military equipment. He was a guest there last December and received a hero’s welcome. But since then the political situation in the US Congress has changed. Republicans have been in charge of the House of Representatives since January. There is considerable skepticism within their ranks as to whether the US should continue to pump a lot of money into a war with no end in sight.
And so Zelensky met senators and representatives behind closed doors this time. He said afterwards that he was grateful for the support. Selenskyj warned senators of the dangers if no further funding was approved for Ukraine, said Democratic Majority Leader in the US Senate Chuck Schumer, according to CNN. “There was a single sentence that summed it all up, and I quote it verbatim: ‘If we don’t get the help, we will lose the war.'”
Dispute over aid to Ukraine
Before Zelensky’s visit, the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, expressed reservations when asked about further support. “Was Zelensky elected to Congress? Is he our president? I don’t believe that,” he said. His party colleague Mitch McConnell, however, tried to emphasize that the arms deliveries were also worthwhile for the Americans. The Senate minority leader said in advance that the US economy also benefits from the arms orders.
The majority of Republicans in Congress support support for Ukraine. Right-wing hardliners in particular oppose it. However, because the Republicans only have a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, they are particularly powerful in the current situation.
The Democratic US President Biden recently requested a new billion-dollar sum for Ukraine from Congress. It is unclear how his request will be granted, as the annual budget dispute rages in Congress. A new federal budget must be approved by the end of September, otherwise there is a risk of another “shutdown” – i.e. a standstill in government business.
Demand for ATACMS missiles
In Washington, Zelenskyj is likely to renew his demand for ATACMS missiles. This is a short-range missile with a range of up to 300 kilometers. They are fired from the ground against targets on the ground. He recently emphasized that his country is not planning to use it to attack Moscow or other targets on Russian soil. The US government believes a delivery is possible, but according to information from the White House it has not yet made a decision.
Given the increasing war-weariness in the USA and other parts of the world, Zelensky has recently adopted a less brash tone than in the first months of the war. Regarding his desire for ATACMS, he said in the CNN interview that he came to the United States not to ask for more, but to say thank you for everything the United States and others have already done. “They have supported us so much during this difficult time.”
1695320181
#Zelensky #fighting #skepticism #Congress