U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy projected a united front on their approach to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine at the White House.
Zelensky met President Biden during an extraordinary day in Washington that marked the Ukrainian leader’s first international trip since Russia invaded Ukraine 300 days ago. Biden pledged a united front with Zelensky, promising that “we will stay with you for as long as it takes.”
“We share the exact same vision, and that a free, independent, prosperous and secure Ukraine is the vision — we both want this war to end,” Biden told reporters. “We both want this war to end. We both want it to end. And as I’ve said, it could end today if Putin had any dignity at all and did the right thing and just said — pulled out. But that’s not going to happen.”
Zelensky awarded Biden a medal from a Ukrainian soldier who requested it be given to a “very brave president,” Zelensky said. Biden thanked him and said the award was “undeserved, but much appreciated.” In turn, Biden also promised to give the Ukrainian soldier a command coin from a U.S. battlefield in Iraq, where the president’s son, Beau, had fought.
Zelenskyy’s address to Congress
In an address to a joint session of U.S. Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an impassioned and emotional plea to Congress for continued American support against Russia’s unrelenting assault, explaining why Ukraine needed more aid and weapons.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy told U.S. legislators during a defiant wartime visit that against all odds his country still stands, thanking Americans for helping to fund the war effort with money that is “not charity,” but an “investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.”
Just before his visit, the U.S. announced a new $1.8 billion military aid package, including for the first time Patriot surface-to-air missiles. Congress planned to soon vote on a fresh spending package that includes about $45 billion in additional emergency assistance to Ukraine that would bring the total over a year to nearly $100 billion.
“Ukraine is alive and kicking,” he said. “And it gives me good reason to share with you our first joint victory: We defeated Russia in the battle for minds of the world.”
After his speech, Zelenskyy delivered a blue and gold Ukrainian battle flag to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who in return handed him a framed American flag that had flown over the Capitol earlier in the day in honor of his visit.
