Zelenskyy pleads for U.S. aid to Ukraine ahead of Tuesday White House meeting
The Ukrainian president spoke at the National Defense University on Monday as the White House continues to put pressure on Congress to pass more aid to Ukraine.
WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded for additional U.S. military aid in a speech in Washington Monday, part of an 11th-hour effort this week to secure funding before the U.S. runs out of money to assist Ukraine's war effort.
- "Ukrainians haven’t given up and won’t give up. We know what to do and you can count on Ukraine and we hope just as much to be able to count on you," Zelenskyy said in remarks at the National Defense University as the White House boosts pressure on Congress to pass more aid to Ukraine.
- "Every one of you here understands for a soldier to wait for munitions, waiting for weeks, months, without knowing if support will come at all," he said.
- "Every one of you with command experience knows what it means when instead of moving forward, you’re just watching, waiting for armor or equipment while your enemy is satisfied and preparing for assaults."
Zelenskyy argued that Russia's "dreams come true when they see delays or some scandals" on Capitol Hill because it means Ukraine has to wait longer for U.S. assistance.
The Senate has been divided over the package first requested by Biden, which would also include aid to Israel. Republicans insist that provisions on U.S. border security be wrapped in, but negotiations with Democrats have not led to an agreement.
- The Ukrainian president laid out his country's achievements in the war against Russia so far, including regaining 50% of the territory Russia recaptured at the beginning of the war.
- He thanked the U.S. for the aid it's provided so far, which Zelenskyy has said has helped protect his citizens from missile attacks.
"We are working with President Biden — and I’m very thankful for him — so that Ukraine and the U.S. can produce weapons together, necessary for protecting, protecting freedom," he said.
- "Ukraine is the first front," Zelenskyy said,
- "But we’ve got to make sure, and we can make sure, it doesn’t come to having a second or third front against freedom somewhere in the Baltic countries, or another part of the world."
- "We are determined to show the world that America will not flinch in our defense of freedom," Austin said.
- "If we do not stand up to the Kremlin’s aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed and more chaos. America will be more secure if we stand up to Putin's increasingly aggressive Russia."
Later in the day, Zelenskyy is expected to meet with International Monetary Fund Director Kristalina Georgieva at the agency's headquarters. The IMF board is also meeting Monday about releasing funds to Ukraine but Zelenskyy is not attending the meeting.
Ukraine is seeking additional U.S. military aid in its fight against Russia. The White House is expected to intensify its outreach to Capitol Hill this week to urge Congress to pass new funding as part of a larger emergency supplemental aid package.
- White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the meeting was meant "to underscore the United States' unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal invasion."
- "As Russia ramps up its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, the leaders will discuss Ukraine’s urgent needs and the vital importance of the United States’ continued support at this critical moment," she said in a statement Sunday.
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