Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy to visit Biden as Congress debates $24bn in aid
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected at the White House and on Capitol Hill next week as he visits the US during the United Nations general assembly.
Zelenskiy’s trip comes as Congress is debating President Joe Biden’s request to provide as much as $24bn in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine as it fights the Russian invasion.
An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive visit, said Zelenskiy will meet with Biden at the White House next Thursday. The trip to the Capitol was confirmed by two congressional aides granted anonymity to discuss the plans.
The Ukrainian president made a wartime visit to Washington, DC, in December 2022 and delivered an impassioned address to a joint meeting of Congress. At the time, it was his first known trip outside his country since Russia invaded in February of that year.
In his speech to cheering lawmakers, Zelenskiy thanked Americans for helping to fund the war effort and said that the money is “not charity”, but an “investment” in global security and democracy.
Details of Zelenskiy’s visit next week were not yet being made public. It was first reported by Punchbowl News.
The White House national security council declined to comment on Zelenskiy’s plans, including whether he would meet with Biden at the White House.
Congress is increasingly divided over providing additional funding for Ukraine as the war is well into its second year. Biden has sought a package of $13.1bn in additional military aid for Ukraine and $8.5bn for humanitarian support. It also includes $2.3bn for financing and to catalyze donors through the World Bank.
after newsletter promotion
But conservative Republican lawmakers have been pushing for broad federal spending cuts and some of those allied with Donald Trump, the former president, are specifically looking to stop money to Ukraine.
Congress is working to pass its annual appropriations bills before a 30 September deadline to keep the US government running.