Zelensky expected at the White House and Capitol next week

A Zelensky’s trip comes at a time when the US Congress is debating the provision of 21 billion dollars (around 19,700 million euros) in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which is facing Russian invasion.

This trip was confirmed by a government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, saying that Zelensky will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House next Thursday.

The visit to the Capitol was confirmed by two congressional aides, also on condition of anonymity.

The Ukrainian head of state paid a visit to Washington during the war, in December 2022, and gave a powerful speech during a joint session of Congress.

At the time, Zelensky thanked the Americans for helping to finance the war effort and highlighted to congressmen that the money “is not charity”, but an “investment” in global security and democracy.

Details of Zelensky’s visit next week have not yet been released.

Congress is increasingly divided over providing additional funding to Ukraine.

Biden proposed a package of 13 billion dollars (around 12.2 billion euros) in additional military aid for Ukraine and 8 billion dollars (around 7.5 billion euros) for humanitarian support.

But some conservative Republican lawmakers have been pushing for broad cuts in federal spending and some have specifically sought to halt money to Ukraine as Congress works to pass its annual appropriations bills before a Sept. 30 deadline to maintain the government. of the USA in operation.

The military offensive launched on February 24, 2022 by Russia in Ukraine caused, according to the most recent UN data, the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).

The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by most of the international community, which has responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing it on Russia of political and economic sanctions.

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