Aware of the risk of fatigue on the part of the great American ally, Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington on Thursday to try to persuade the United States to help him cross the “finish line” against Russia, if possible with new ones , powerful weapons.
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Dressed in his usual khaki outfit, Mr. Zelensky arrived this morning at the American Congress, where elected officials are debating possible new military and humanitarian aid for his country at war.
“Air defense will be one of the main priorities” at the planned meetings in the American capital, he had previously said on X (formerly Twitter).
The atmosphere has changed since his visit to the American capital on December 21, 2022.
This trip, his first trip abroad since Russia’s invasion in February of the same year, had been prepared in the greatest secrecy. The images of the Ukrainian president under the colonnades of the White House, celebrated in Congress, are already history.
Since then, the sense of urgency has diminished and the Republican opposition has taken control of one of the chambers of Parliament. This time Volodymyr Zelensky was not received with much fanfare at the Capitol, the seat of Congress.
But he must meet leaders of the Democratic Party and Republican Party there.
The most anticipated and difficult interview will be with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy.
“I have questions for him. Can he account for the money we have already spent? “What is the strategy for victory?” said the conservative leader on Tuesday under pressure from the right wing of his party to stop deliveries to Kiev.
- Listen to the live broadcast of the Lisée Mulcair meeting with Richard Martineau daily at 8:50 a.m. above QUB radio :
budget
This financial issue is further complicated by the very near-term risk of budget paralysis in the United States if lawmakers cannot agree on at least an interim financial bill before October 1.
The discussions partly stumble over the budget earmarked for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
It is “vital” that Congress release the $24 billion requested by the executive branch to help the Ukrainians, John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said on Wednesday.
“Anyone who thinks that the cost of supporting Ukraine today is high can only imagine how exorbitant it would be in blood and money if we give up, if we allow (Russian President Vladimir Putin) to destroy the entire Ukraine “takes and finds himself in a much stronger position,” he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also has to pass through the Pentagon on Thursday before being received by Joe and Jill Biden at 7:00 p.m. GMT, accompanied by his wife.
This is followed by a meeting between the two presidents in the Oval Office and then a meeting with delegations from both countries.
The American president, the great leader of the Western response to the Russian invasion, is also aware of the danger of running out of strength as the conflict continues and winter approaches.
“Tired”
“Russia believes the world will grow weary and allow Ukraine to be brutalized without consequences,” Joe Biden, who faces a second term next year, warned at the United Nations on Tuesday.
For his part, during a special session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Moscow’s “criminal aggression” and “blockade” of the UN body due to the Russian veto.
“We are at the finish line,” the Ukrainian president stressed in an interview with CNN after anonymous American officials expressed reservations about Ukraine’s military strategy in the press.
Joe Biden wants to “get a sense of what is happening on the battlefield” but also “make it very clear to President Zelensky that we will be with you as long as necessary,” John Kirby said on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian president’s visit is logically accompanied by speculation about a new announcement of American military aid.
In addition to the anti-aircraft defenses mentioned on Thursday morning, Mr. Zelensky admitted to CNN the day before that he would feel “some disappointment” if he did not leave Washington with a commitment to receive long-range ATACMS tactical missiles.
The White House has so far responded cautiously to this latest request. The delivery of such missiles is “not ruled out,” stressed John Kirby, but ensured that “no decision has been made.”