Joe Biden vows support for Ukraine, but Zelensky faces sceptics in US Congress
- The White House says it will give Kyiv a ‘significant air defence capability’, but there was no deal to provide the long-range missiles it seeks
- Meanwhile, US lawmakers are locked in a bitter spending battle that could spark a government shutdown, with a US$24 billion aid package for Ukraine at risk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky won pledges of unstinting support and air defence weapons from US President Joe Biden on Thursday, but he warned that Russia could still defeat Kyiv if Republican lawmakers cut American military aid.
Wearing his trademark olive green military-style shirt, Zelensky huddled with members of Congress before stopping at the Pentagon and the White House, where Biden greeted him with an honour guard.
“We greatly appreciate the assistance provided by the United States to combat Russian terror, really terror,” Zelensky told Biden in the Oval Office.
Sitting with Biden beneath portraits of former presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and reading prepared remarks from cards, Zelensky also thanked Congress for its “big, huge support”.
Biden hailed the “enormous bravery” of the Ukrainian people as they fight back Russia’s invasion, adding that “the American people are determined to see to it that we do all we can to ensure the world stands with you”.