Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington DC, the capital of the USA, on Wednesday, 21/12, during a visit described as historic by the American press and names such as democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. US President Joe Biden and a speech in Congress.
Zelensky was received by Biden, and the two moved on to a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House – a Ukrainian, who will later address American parliamentarians.
Drawing a parallel between the Second World War and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pelosi likened the moment to a speech by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the US Congress in 1941, just days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the Americans entered the country. at war.
The Democratic Party leader also sent a direct message to Zelensky that “America and the world respect the heroism of the Ukrainian people.”
This is not the first face-to-face meeting with Joe Biden in Washington, although this is the Ukrainian president’s first trip abroad since the beginning of the war.
The two met in September 2021—the first visit by a then-Ukrainian leader to the White House in four years.
But what is the meaning of Zelensky’s trip to the USA?
BBC News North America correspondent John Sudworth points out that this is “television diplomacy”.
“The image of a wartime leader draws comparisons in the press to Winston Churchill’s Christmas trip in 1941 as he decides to travel the world to personally sit at the heart of American democracy.”
Security is expected to be tight in Washington – scheduling of the visit was kept secret until a few hours before Zelensky’s plane took off.
A letter from Pelosi urged members to be in Congress for an event with “a particular focus on democracy.”
Then came the tweet of the Ukrainian president: “The United States is on its way to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and defense capacity.”
The meeting will be an opportunity for President Biden to personally confirm to Zelensky the procurement of the Patriot missile system, an important asset for Ukraine’s air defense, and Congress will now pass a bill that includes more than $40 billion (R$ 208 billion) in addition. discussing. help.
“But as Republicans prepare to take control of Congress in the new year, and some of their ranks are voicing their concerns about blank check financing for the war, it is clear that President Zelensky’s visit is an opportunity to combine strong symbolism with the strategic aims of maintaining security. Sudworth, Biden’ “The opposition will have the resources before it takes over Parliament,” he said.
– Text originally published at https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-64059285
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.