Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will journey to Washington on Tuesday in a last-ditch effort to foyer with President Biden and members of Congress aimed toward securing billions of {dollars} in U.S. support, officers mentioned Sunday.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White Home press secretary, mentioned Mr. Zelensky would meet Mr. Biden on the White Home to “underscore the USA’ unwavering dedication” to the embattled nation because it resists the Russian invasion.
“As Russia intensifies its missile and drone strikes in opposition to Ukraine, leaders will talk about Ukraine’s urgent wants and the very important significance of continued U.S. assist at this essential second,” Ms. Jean-Pierre mentioned.
Final week, Republicans blocked a $110.5 billion emergency spending invoice that features funding for the warfare effort in Ukraine, elevating doubts about whether or not the USA will proceed to assist arm the nation in its warfare in opposition to Russia.
They mentioned any measure to fund the warfare effort in Ukraine must be coupled with adjustments to U.S. asylum legal guidelines and detention insurance policies, which weren’t included within the invoice.
Mr. Biden and his aides have warned that refusing to assist Ukraine within the coming months might pave the best way for a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Zelensky’s chief of workers additionally mentioned final week that Ukraine would possibly lose the warfare if the USA delayed support.
Republicans responded by saying that Mr. Biden and Mr. Zelensky had not introduced a transparent plan for successful the warfare, which faltered after dragging on for greater than a yr and a half.
Mr. Zelensky may have an opportunity to confront some lawmakers instantly Tuesday morning throughout a closed session with senators, in accordance with considered one of his senior Democratic aides. The assembly was organized by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the bulk chief, and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican chief.
The Ukrainian chief was scheduled to handle an identical session of lawmakers remotely final week, however canceled the session on the final minute. The assembly was a shouting match between Democratic and Republican senators over the GOP’s border calls for.
Mr. Zelensky final visited Washington in September and held an identical assembly on the Capitol with senators that was extensively attended. However he was by no means invited to handle members of the Home of Representatives, as most Republicans have since voted in opposition to persevering with to assist the warfare. A number of days after Mr. Zelensky’s go to, Congress determined to not add emergency warfare support to Ukraine in a authorities funding invoice, placing that support in limbo for the primary time because the Russian invasion in early 2022.
Throughout his go to in September, Mr. Zelensky met with Consultant Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California after which Speaker of Parliament; Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York and minority chief; and a bunch of senior lawmakers from the Homeland Safety and Appropriations committees. Mr. McCarthy was fired as speaker lower than two weeks later.
The brand new spokesman, Mike Johnson, is anticipated to fulfill with Zelensky alone this week, in accordance with Raj Shah, Johnson’s spokesman.
Mr. Zelensky’s workplace mentioned in an announcement on Sunday that he “will concentrate on securing unity between the USA, Europe and the remainder of the world in supporting Ukraine’s protection in opposition to Russian aggression, in addition to strengthening the rules-based worldwide order and respect for human rights.” Sovereignty of states.”
There may be nonetheless an enormous hole to be stuffed in Congress. Senator Christopher S. Murphy, the Connecticut Democrat who’s main negotiations for his celebration, mentioned on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the GOP’s newest calls for have been “unreasonable.”
He added: “If I have been being sarcastic, I’d say that Republicans determined to hyperlink assist for Ukraine to immigration reform as a result of they need support to Ukraine to fail.”
However Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, who’s main the negotiations for his celebration, rejected such accusations, arguing on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that Congress ought to have addressed each issues.
“What you hear from lots of people is: Why will we deal with different individuals’s safety and ignore America’s nationwide safety?” “We are able to do two issues directly,” Mr. Lankford mentioned, including later.