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Genya Savilov/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will go to President Biden on the White Home on Wednesday and can handle Congress in a visit aimed toward underscoring U.S. help for the nation as Russia’s struggle towards its neighbor drags on.
Through the go to, Biden will announce almost $2 billion in new safety help, together with a Patriot surface-to-air missile battery, a senior administration official instructed reporters on a convention name. America will practice Ukraine’s navy find out how to use the Patriot in a 3rd nation, the official mentioned, noting it should take time earlier than it’s operational in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president’s go to is the primary to the U.S. since Russia launched its assault in February. It additionally comes as lawmakers are making ready to vote on an omnibus spending invoice that features $44.9 billion in emergency help to Ukraine and NATO allies.
Congress is voting on sending extra help
The U.S. has been a powerful ally of Ukraine in its struggle towards Russia. Up to now, lawmakers have supplied over $65 billion in help to Ukraine, together with humanitarian help.
Some Republicans within the Home have expressed concern concerning the billions of {dollars} of navy and financial help despatched to the nation for the reason that struggle started. In October, Home Republican Chief Kevin McCarthy mentioned he was cautious about giving Ukraine a “clean verify.” McCarthy is poised to change into Speaker of the Home in January.
The senior administration official insisted that the fanfare across the go to was not aimed toward quelling complaints concerning the spending.
“This is not about sending a message to a specific political occasion — that is about sending a message to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and sending a message to the world that America will likely be there for Ukraine for so long as it takes,” the official mentioned, noting the dimensions of the congressional package deal demonstrates that there’s “broad, deep and bipartisan” help for the help.
Zelenskyy beforehand addressed Congress by way of video from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in March. He known as on lawmakers to ship extra help at the moment, too. This time, he will likely be making his enchantment in individual.
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