Volodymyr Zelensky will try to return from the United States this week with the assurance that the funds tap for Ukraine will remain open. But the game is still far from won with certain members of the American political class. With this in mind, US President Joe Biden invited him to come to Washington on Tuesday.
“The two leaders will discuss Ukraine’s urgent needs and the vital importance of continued U.S. support at this critical moment,” as “Russia escalates its missile and drone attacks against Ukraine,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Sunday.
Meetings with Congressional leaders
The Ukrainian president will arrive in the United States this Monday to discuss with Joe Biden on “defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United States”, and more particularly on the “production of weapons and anti-aircraft defense systems “, indicated Kiev.
Following Biden’s invitation, a parliamentary source said that the new Republican leader of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, whose party is blocking aid to Ukraine by demanding significant concessions on the migration policy of the United States- United, will also meet the Ukrainian president during a meeting on Tuesday. To prevent Washington from sounding the death knell for its aid, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also invited Zelensky to meet them on Tuesday, a parliamentary source said.
“What will happen if Putin conquers Ukraine?” »
The United States is the country that provides the most significant military support to Kiev, with Congress having committed more than $110 billion since the Russian invasion in February 2022. But Joe Biden’s promise to continue supporting Ukraine financially is jeopardized by Congress. Last week, he blocked a large envelope of more than $106 billion insisted on by President Biden, including funds for Ukraine and Israel.
“What will happen if Putin conquers Ukraine?” NATO countries, our sons and daughters, risk being drawn into an even larger conflict. And it’s not just Putin, other dictators are watching what Congress does,” White House Budget Director Shalanda Young thundered on Sunday, warning that the United States will run out of money to Ukraine if Congress does not approve the package. Blocking new funds would be “the greatest gift” offered to the Russian president, Joe Biden had already warned, affirming that the master of the Kremlin, if he managed to seize Ukraine, “will not stop ( it) not there.”