Russia-Ukraine War: Zelensky took a million dollar military aid package from Joe Biden

It was a visit full of symbolism, the first he did abroad since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Dressed in a sash, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski, the man who has been the biggest global player this year, sat face to face in the White House with Joe Biden, his main ally since the Russian invasion.

The visitor took the promise that the United States will continue with unconditional support, but also a succulent package of 1,850 million dollars in aid and weapons that Congress could expand.

Zelensky landed at Andrews Air Force Base on a US military plane at noon after a trip secretly arranged for security reasons. He was greeted by Biden and his wife Jill at the presidential palace, while US guardsmen raised their national flag and that of Ukraine.

Shortly before his arrival, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had announced $1.85 billion in funds previously budgeted for Ukraine, including for the first time the advanced Patriot air defense system capable of shooting down cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles, further enhancing Ukraine’s defensive capability.

Emotion

The airstrike is something that worries Zelensky, who has faced a series of drone strikes against his country, many of them purchased by Moscow from Iran, and fears a growing avalanche of Russian missiles impacting power plants and other civilian infrastructure.

“I am thrilled to have him here. We will continue to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, especially its air defense,” Biden told Zelensky in the Oval Office. Then he left to meet Biden alone for more than two hours.

In his first known trip abroad since Russia invaded his country in February, the Ukrainian said he wanted to visit Washington first and that his arrival at the time was a reflection that “the situation is under control thanks to your help”.

“For me, as president, ‘just peace’ is uncompromising,” Zelensky told reporters. He said the war will end when Ukraine’s sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity are restored and “all damages inflicted by Russian aggression” are paid.

The Ukrainian later moved to Congress to deliver an emotional message on the need for urgent aid for his country, which has been at war since the Russian invasion in February. An eloquent speaker, Zelensky had already addressed lawmakers several times via video, but never in personwhich increased the impact among MPs.

like Churchill

Members of Congress have even compared his visit to the one Winston Churchill paid to the Capitol in 1941, on Christmas Day, just days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that embroiled the United States in World War II.

“IT IS particularly moving for me be there when another heroic leader addresses Congress in times of war and with democracy itself at stake,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a supporter of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said further US arms deliveries to Kiev would lead to a “aggravation of the conflict” and not “bodes well for Ukraine”.

consulted by clarionJaved Ali, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan who has held various positions at the Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, said Zelensky’s trip has “multiple goals.”

“First of all – he points out – to express our gratitude for the strong support of the United States to Ukraine during the past year, which includes billions of dollars in economic aid, military equipment and supplies, diplomatic initiatives and the exchange of intelligence and other information ” .

“Second, he will also probably ask the White House and Congress additional itemsparticularly on the military front, which the United States has not yet provided, which could enable Ukraine to successfully defend itself against Russian aggression and inflict damage on Russian forces on the battlefield,” he noted.

“Thirdly, the visit demonstrates to the Ukrainian people, the West, Russia and its supporters such as China, Iran and North Korea that the US-Ukraine relationship has remained intact almost a year after the conflict, and it is likely which will remain at this high level in the future,” he added.

For the expert, today”ties between Ukraine and the United States are strongdespite the lack of a formal bilateral defense or security relationship, or Ukraine’s membership in a military coalition such as NATO or an economic bloc such as the EU.

Despite the strong ties, Ali argues, “President Zelensky may wish to explore the possibility of establishing more formal bilateral or multilateral ties with the United States, which if they took the form of a treaty would require Senate approval (hence the session with members of Congress). United States too would benefit from a strong ally such as Ukraine, which has been battle-tested against Russia and has successfully integrated US and other Western military equipment, technology and intelligence into its national security efforts.”