Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky meets with President Joe Biden at the White House; This Wednesday the US announced military aid with the shipment of the Patriot Air Defense System and $1.9 billion dollars
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky arrived at the White House, where he was received by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
“Today I am in Washington to thank the American people, the president and Congress for their much-needed support,” Zelensky said as he arrived in Washington, D.C., where he is meeting with President Biden and will go before Congress.
He expressed his interest in continuing cooperation to achieve Ukraine’s victory against Russia’s invasion.
“I will hold a series of negotiations to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities,” he said.
Presidents Biden and Zelensky entered the Oval Office, where they will meet in private.
“I am delighted that you were able to make the trip,” Biden said in a brief conference. “We will support Ukraine in the search for a just peace.
Zelensky said he wanted to travel to the United States sooner and awarded Biden a medal. No one accepted questions.
Patriot Air Defense
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the new $1.9 billion military and economic aid package for Ukrainians.
The official also pointed to the first shipment of the Patriot Air Defense System, which could drastically change the Ukrainian strategy.
“For the past 300 days, the Kremlin has been unsuccessfully trying to wipe Ukraine off the map,” Blinken said. “Russia is now trying to weaponize winter by freezing and starving Ukrainian civilians and forcing families out of their homes.”
Blinken indicated that President Biden would announce the additional aid, totaling nearly $22 billion in military, humanitarian and financial support for Ukraine.
“Today I am authorizing our 28th withdrawal of US weapons and equipment from Ukraine since August 2021,” Blinken said.
The Department of Defense is also announcing today an additional $850 million in security assistance under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
“Today’s assistance, for the first time, includes the Patriot Air Defense System, capable of shooting down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at a significantly higher level than previously provided air defense systems,” Blinken said. .
The official said the US continues to work closely with more than 50 allies and partners around the world to help Ukraine.