WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet US chief Joe Biden and tackle Congress in Washington on Wednesday after Vladimir Putin vowed to strengthen the Russian navy in Ukraine.
The secretly organized journey comes because the Russian president blamed the West for the “shared tragedy” of the struggle and stated Moscow would develop its navy’s nuclear capabilities.
Will probably be Zelenskyy’s first journey outdoors Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February, once they deliberate for a fast takeover of Kyiv and far of the nation.
Zelenskyy’s go to will “underscore the US’ steadfast dedication to supporting Ukraine for so long as it takes,” White Home spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre stated.
It comes after practically 10 months of a struggle has seen Russian forces halted by a cussed Ukrainian military backed by Western arms, pressured to retreat from captured territory and struggling to keep away from additional setbacks.
“On my approach to the US to strengthen resilience and protection capabilities of (Ukraine),” Zelenskyy tweeted, confirming that he’ll make a speech to Congress in particular person.
Zelenskyy will go to the White Home the place Biden is to announce a brand new arms package deal value virtually $2 billion {that a} senior administration official stated contains Patriot air protection missiles.
Patriot missiles are seen as essential to assist Kyiv fend off Russia’s punishing missile and drone assaults on its infrastructure.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Wednesday that new weapons deliveries would result in an “aggravation of the battle” and don’t “bode properly for Ukraine”.
He added that Moscow doesn’t anticipate Ukraine to vary its stance on peace talks- together with refusing to barter whereas Putin is in power- through the go to.
Talking with senior navy officers throughout a televised tackle, Putin stated Moscow was to not blame for the invasion and agreed with an evaluation that Russia wanted a bigger military.
“The fight capabilities of our armed forces are rising continuously,” Putin stated, including that Russia can even “enhance the fight readiness of our nuclear triad”.
“What is occurring is, in fact, a tragedy- our shared tragedy. However it isn’t the results of our coverage. It’s the results of the coverage of third international locations,” he added.
“We have no limits on funding. The nation and the federal government is giving all the pieces that the military asks for, all the pieces,” Putin stated.
Zelenskyy can also be anticipated to deal with a joint session of Congress, which Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated could be “a really particular concentrate on democracy.”
The go to was quietly deliberate, starting with a phone name between Biden and Zelenskyy on December 11, adopted by a proper invitation every week in the past and affirmation of the go to on Sunday.
Particulars of the go to leaked on Tuesday afternoon, with officers stressing to US media that there have been nonetheless safety considerations over Zelenskyy’s journey.
Biden and Zelenskyy will talk about the arms and coaching offered by the US and allies, sanctions and different strain on Russia, and financial and humanitarian assist that Ukraine wants, the senior White Home official stated.
“They are going to talk about each factor of this battle, together with the scenario on the battlefield and together with the query of the place the struggle goes from right here,” the official stated.
The go to will ship Putin “a powerful message of unity and resolve from the White Home, from Washington, from the free world, on behalf of all of the nations supporting Ukraine,” the official added.
However that doesn’t embody pressuring Zelenskyy into talks with Putin, the official burdened.
Zelenskyy flies to the US after a dangerous go to to the frontline in Bakhmut, the place either side have endured heavy tolls in fixed taking pictures and shelling over the previous two months.
Brutal trench warfare and artillery battles round Bakhmut- as soon as recognized for its vineyards and salt mines- have flattened giant parts of town and its environment.
“Right here in Donbas, you are defending all of Ukraine,” Zelensky informed Ukrainian fighters.
“This isn’t simply Bakhmut, that is fortress Bakhmut,” he stated, handing out honors to Ukraine servicemen.
Troopers gave Zelenskyy a Ukrainian flag with their names signed on it and requested him to current it to Biden and Congress.
Zelenskyy stated they informed him: “We’ve a tough scenario. The enemy is rising their numbers. Our guys are braver, however we’d like extra weapons.”
The secretly organized journey comes because the Russian president blamed the West for the “shared tragedy” of the struggle and stated Moscow would develop its navy’s nuclear capabilities.
Will probably be Zelenskyy’s first journey outdoors Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February, once they deliberate for a fast takeover of Kyiv and far of the nation.
Zelenskyy’s go to will “underscore the US’ steadfast dedication to supporting Ukraine for so long as it takes,” White Home spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre stated.
It comes after practically 10 months of a struggle has seen Russian forces halted by a cussed Ukrainian military backed by Western arms, pressured to retreat from captured territory and struggling to keep away from additional setbacks.
“On my approach to the US to strengthen resilience and protection capabilities of (Ukraine),” Zelenskyy tweeted, confirming that he’ll make a speech to Congress in particular person.
Zelenskyy will go to the White Home the place Biden is to announce a brand new arms package deal value virtually $2 billion {that a} senior administration official stated contains Patriot air protection missiles.
Patriot missiles are seen as essential to assist Kyiv fend off Russia’s punishing missile and drone assaults on its infrastructure.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Wednesday that new weapons deliveries would result in an “aggravation of the battle” and don’t “bode properly for Ukraine”.
He added that Moscow doesn’t anticipate Ukraine to vary its stance on peace talks- together with refusing to barter whereas Putin is in power- through the go to.
Talking with senior navy officers throughout a televised tackle, Putin stated Moscow was to not blame for the invasion and agreed with an evaluation that Russia wanted a bigger military.
“The fight capabilities of our armed forces are rising continuously,” Putin stated, including that Russia can even “enhance the fight readiness of our nuclear triad”.
“What is occurring is, in fact, a tragedy- our shared tragedy. However it isn’t the results of our coverage. It’s the results of the coverage of third international locations,” he added.
“We have no limits on funding. The nation and the federal government is giving all the pieces that the military asks for, all the pieces,” Putin stated.
Zelenskyy can also be anticipated to deal with a joint session of Congress, which Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated could be “a really particular concentrate on democracy.”
The go to was quietly deliberate, starting with a phone name between Biden and Zelenskyy on December 11, adopted by a proper invitation every week in the past and affirmation of the go to on Sunday.
Particulars of the go to leaked on Tuesday afternoon, with officers stressing to US media that there have been nonetheless safety considerations over Zelenskyy’s journey.
Biden and Zelenskyy will talk about the arms and coaching offered by the US and allies, sanctions and different strain on Russia, and financial and humanitarian assist that Ukraine wants, the senior White Home official stated.
“They are going to talk about each factor of this battle, together with the scenario on the battlefield and together with the query of the place the struggle goes from right here,” the official stated.
The go to will ship Putin “a powerful message of unity and resolve from the White Home, from Washington, from the free world, on behalf of all of the nations supporting Ukraine,” the official added.
However that doesn’t embody pressuring Zelenskyy into talks with Putin, the official burdened.
Zelenskyy flies to the US after a dangerous go to to the frontline in Bakhmut, the place either side have endured heavy tolls in fixed taking pictures and shelling over the previous two months.
Brutal trench warfare and artillery battles round Bakhmut- as soon as recognized for its vineyards and salt mines- have flattened giant parts of town and its environment.
“Right here in Donbas, you are defending all of Ukraine,” Zelensky informed Ukrainian fighters.
“This isn’t simply Bakhmut, that is fortress Bakhmut,” he stated, handing out honors to Ukraine servicemen.
Troopers gave Zelenskyy a Ukrainian flag with their names signed on it and requested him to current it to Biden and Congress.
Zelenskyy stated they informed him: “We’ve a tough scenario. The enemy is rising their numbers. Our guys are braver, however we’d like extra weapons.”
