2023-12-12 20:47:00
Washington (CNN) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington on Tuesday making a plea in person for the military and economic aid he said is necessary to continue Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky, who arrived in Washington for the third time since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, met with members of Congress on Tuesday morning and with President Joe Biden in the afternoon. Zelensky’s meetings come on the same day the US declassified new intelligence on Russia’s losses so far in the war. The information shows that US officials believe that the Russian military has continued to suffer heavy losses in the war, but is also determined to continue advancing.
The visit comes as a deal for a supplemental funding package that includes crucial aid for the war-torn country remains blocked by congressional Republicans, who want the Biden administration to make concessions on border security and immigration policy in exchange for the aid package.
It is unlikely that an agreement will be reached on the eve of the holidays.
Although Biden has said he is open to compromise, a bloc of Republicans remains wary of adding more aid to the more than $100 billion already approved by Congress. Biden officials have said there is no one better than Zelensky himself to defend the country against him.
President Joe Biden in a file image. Elizabeth Frantz/Archyde.com
This is the highlight of Zelensky’s day in the country’s capital.
Zelensky tells senators he hopes US will help Ukraine
According to Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Zelensky told senators that he continues to have the United States’ support for his country.
Senators’ questions were mainly about accountability for U.S. aid, and Zelensky tried to assure senators that the money would not be used corruptly in Ukraine, according to GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. .
According to Rounds, Zelensky did not give a figure for the total US aid needed for Ukraine. But he tried to convince senators that Ukraine needed more air defense systems quickly to close a land bridge to Crimea.
In a social media post after the meeting, Zelensky described the conversation as “friendly and sincere” and thanked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for “their personal leadership in time to build bipartisan support for Ukraine among U.S. lawmakers.
Zelensky walks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (left) and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“I briefed members of the US Senate on the current military and economic situation in Ukraine, the importance of maintaining vital US support, and answered their questions,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said it was a “very good, productive meeting.” Zelensky did not respond to shouted questions as he passed journalists after the meeting.
Schumer added that Zelensky “made it very clear how he needs help,” including exactly what kind of help Ukraine needs and how that help will allow his country to emerge victorious. If the United States does not provide more aid, Ukraine’s European allies are likely to become nervous, Schumer warned.
“Europe and many other allies will say: ‘What is happening here?'” he said.
Another lawmaker, Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, drew parallels between Republican inaction and U.K. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s early, and ultimately failed, strategy to appease Adolf Hitler’s regime in Germany.
“Those who oppose aid to Ukraine are making the same mistake that Chamberlain made,” Merkley said, warning Republicans not to let history repeat itself.
Deal remains unlikely
Some Republicans who attended that meeting said they remained unmoved after hearing Zelensky’s plea for help, insisting that Biden still had to negotiate.
“I don’t know if it’s moved the needle,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said after the meeting.
“The only thing that’s really holding this up right now is the White House’s unwillingness so far to recognize that they’re going to have to deal with the border component, not just to pay for the current policies, which are freeing up millions of people. inside, but really changes to the asylum system, changes to the mass release system known as humanitarian parole,” he said.
Senator JD Vance of Ohio, an outspoken critic of sending additional funds to Ukraine, left the meeting between Zelensky and other senators early. He said Zelensky gave senators an “update on strategic milestones” and began answering questions, but the Ohio Republican said his view remained the same on the idea of sending more aid.
Another senator who attended the meeting said Zelensky allayed some Republican concerns about corruption in the Ukrainian government and possible embezzlement.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., who has spoken in favor of increasing aid to Ukraine if it is tied to a stricter border policy, said Zelensky did not wade into the political disagreements that are standing in the way of a deal to increase aid.
“We held it to a high level,” Mullin said. “We’re working through the process. And he understood it. He was very respectful. (He said, ‘I understand. I’m just here to let you know we need you.’)”
However, Mullin later said that hopes of reaching a deal remain slim if the Biden administration does not make major concessions. The president had already said that he was open to reaching an agreement, but he did not specify what exactly he would accept.
“There is zero chance of an aid package to Ukraine and Israel passing the House without really meaningful border security,” said Mullin, a former House member who maintains close ties to some of his former colleagues. “And I’ll tell you, Republicans alike, we all agree with House Republicans to do it.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville was blunt about his impassive stance on providing more aid to Ukraine.
“We don’t have money,” the Alabama Republican said.
Johnson says White House response ‘insufficient’
After a meeting of about 30 minutes with Zelensky, his first face-to-face meeting, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that the Biden administration’s response to the demands of Republican members of Congress has been “insufficient,” and He reiterated his position that an agreement without “transformative change” on the border remains unlikely.
Johnson said his meeting with Zelensky was “good” but remained firm in his stance that the border should be the primary objective and demanded greater clarity from the White House on Ukraine strategy.
Johnson insisted that the White House has not been able to articulate a clear strategy and that at this point it is up to the Senate and the White House.
“I have asked the White House since the day they handed me the gavel… we need a clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win,” he said, “and so far their responses have been insufficient.”
“It’s not the House’s business right now,” Johnson added. “The issue is for the White House and the Senate, and I implore them to do their job because the moment is urgent.”
Biden unlocks US$200 million for Ukraine
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with Zelensky in the Oval Office, Biden announced that he would release $200 million in funds already approved by Congress to help Ukraine with its defense needs.
Although this is a small fraction of the $60 billion Biden requested for Ukraine in his supplemental funding request, the funds will be released shortly, the president said.
“Congress needs to approve supplemental funding for Ukraine before it goes on vacation,” Biden said. If they don’t, they would give “Putin the biggest Christmas gift possible.”
Biden reiterated his earlier warnings that a Russian victory could lead to a cascading failure of democratic norms and values across Europe and the world.
“We’ve seen what happens when dictators don’t pay the price for the harm, the death, the destruction they cause,” Biden said. “They continue when no price is paid. The threat to the United States, to Europe and to the world will only increase if we do not act.”
“And I intend for us to act,” he added.
— CNN’s Manu Raju, Haley Talbot, Lauren Fox and Ted Barrett contributed to this report.
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