During a visit to the US today, Ukrainian President Zelensky has an appointment with President Biden – and he comes with specific wishes. But it’s also clear that the mood in Washington has changed since his last visit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the US capital Washington to ask his most important ally for more support in defense against Russia. Upon his arrival at the US Congress, the leader of the Democratic minority in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, accompanied him to the Capitol. Later, US President Joe Biden wants to welcome Zelenskyy to the White House.
The 45-year-old arrives in Washington with specific requests for military equipment. He was invited there last December and received a hero’s welcome. But since then the political situation in the US Congress has changed. Republicans have been in charge of the House of Representatives since January. There is considerable skepticism among its ranks about whether the US should continue to pump lots of money into a war with no end in sight.
And this time Zelensky met with senators and deputies behind closed doors. He said later that he was grateful for the support. Zelensky warned senators about the dangers if no additional funding was approved for Ukraine, US Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, according to CNN. “There was a single sentence that summed it all up, and I quote it verbatim: ‘If we don’t get help, we will lose the war.'”
Dispute over aid to Ukraine
Ahead of Zelensky’s visit, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy expressed reservations when asked about further support. “Was Zelensky elected to Congress? Is he our president? I don’t believe it,” he said. His party colleague Mitch McConnell, however, tried to emphasize that the weapons deliveries were also worth it for Americans. The Senate minority leader said in advance that the US economy also benefits from arms orders.
Most Republicans in Congress support supporting Ukraine. Right-wing hardliners, in particular, oppose this. However, as the Republicans only have a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, they are particularly powerful in the current situation.
US Democratic President Biden recently asked Congress for a new sum of one billion dollars for Ukraine. It is unclear how his request will be met as the annual budget fight intensifies in Congress. A new federal budget must be approved by the end of September, otherwise there is a risk of another “shutdown” – that is, a standstill in government business.
Demand for ATACMS missiles
In Washington, Zelenskyy will likely renew his search for ATACMS missiles. This is a short-range missile with a range of up to 300 kilometers. They are fired from the ground at targets on the ground. He recently emphasized that his country does not plan to use it to attack Moscow or other targets on Russian soil. The US government believes that delivery is possible, but according to information from the White House it has not yet made a decision.
Given growing war fatigue in the US and other parts of the world, Zelensky has recently adopted a less bold tone than in the early months of the war. Regarding his desire for ATACMS, he said in the CNN interview that he came to the United States not to ask for more, but to be grateful for everything the United States and others have already done. “They have been very supportive of us during this difficult time.”