Volodymyr Zelensky set to meet Joe Biden in Washington in his second trip since war
According to multiple media reports, Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to meet Joe Biden at the White House and also visit Capitol Hill next week as part of a diplomatic trip to Washington.
The Ukrainian president’s second visit to the US since the Russian invasion comes as Congress considers Mr Biden’s request to give Ukraine up to $24 billion (£19 billion) in military and humanitarian aid to support.
The visit also comes as Western leaders have defended Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia, which officials said on condition of anonymity has been slow to get off the ground. On Friday, Ukraine announced that it had liberated a village near Bakhmut in a “blitz operation” after heavy fighting with Russian troops as part of its counteroffensive.
Mr Zelensky will meet the US president at the White House next Thursday, an administration official said on condition of anonymity. Two congressional staffers confirmed the wartime president’s trip to the Capitol.
The two leaders could also attend a meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on September 18 and 19 in New York.
However, the White House National Security Council declined to comment on Mr. Zelensky’s plans. This also includes the likely meeting between the two presidents in the White House.
This will be Mr. Zelensky’s second visit to the United States and only the second time he has ever visited a country abroad since the invasion in February last year.
He paid a major visit to the US in December last year and gave a speech to the US House of Representatives.
To bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities, Mr. Biden requested a package of $13.1 billion in additional military aid and another $8.5 billion in humanitarian assistance, including $2.3 billion in funding and donor support through the World Bank.
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But he faces resistance from conservative Republican lawmakers who are calling for sweeping cuts in federal spending, as well as some lawmakers allied with Donald Trump who are specifically aiming to stop funds going to Ukraine.
Congress is facing increasing conflict over providing additional funding for Ukraine as the war is well into its second year and it works to pass its annual budget proposals before the Sept. 30 deadline to fund U.S. to keep the government running.
Mr. Zelensky is likely to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly and is also reportedly seeking meetings with other visiting world leaders.
This was claimed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he planned to meet Mr Zelensky on the sidelines of UN meetings.
In addition, the US wants to impose new sanctions on more than 150 people and organizations linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The United States continues its tireless work to target Russia’s military supply chains and deprive (Russian President Vladimir) Putin of the equipment, technology and services he needs to wage his barbaric war against Ukraine,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.