Zelensky in the USA while Congress debates new aid of 22.5 billion

O US President Joe Biden has asked Congress to provide up to 24 billion dollars (about 22.5 billion euros) in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as the country continues to defend itself from the Russian invasion.

Jake Sullivan, the US President’s national security advisor, confirmed this Thursday that Joe Biden will receive Zelensky at the White House, marking the third time this has happened.

“We are certainly at a critical juncture as Russia desperately seeks help from countries like North Korea for its brutal war in Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces continue to make progress in their counteroffensive,” Sullivan said today during a conference press conference at the White House.

Sullivan also confirmed that Zelensky will visit the US Capitol.

“I think that [Zelensky] is looking forward to the opportunity not only to see President Biden here in the White House, but also to see Congressional leaders from both parties to make the case that the United States has been a great friend and partner to Ukraine throughout this period of brutal war “, he highlighted.

The Ukrainian President paid a wartime visit to Washington in December 2022 and delivered an impassioned speech to a joint meeting of Congress.

At the time, it was his first known trip outside the country since the Russian invasion in February of that year.

In his emotional speech to congressmen, Zelensky thanked Americans for helping finance the war effort and said the money was “not charity” but an investment in global security and democracy.

Details of Zelensky’s visit next week were first reported by Punchbowl News, and the government official will be in the United States to participate in the United Nations General Assembly.

The US Congress is increasingly divided over providing additional funding to Ukraine as the war is now in its second year.

Biden proposed a package of 13,000 million dollars (about 12,200 million euros) in additional military aid for Ukraine and 8,000 million dollars (about 7,500 million 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.

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