President Volodymyr Zelenskiy worked to shore up US support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington on Thursday, delivering an upbeat message on the war’s progress while facing new questions about the flow of US dollars that for 19 months have helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces.
President Joe Biden gave Zelenskiy a red-carpet arrival on the White House South lawn and more ceremony than world leaders normally receive, and made clear his concern with Congress.
And Republican McCarthy also confirmed that he declined Zelenskiy’s request for a joint session of Congress, as happened during the Ukrainian president’s dramatic visit to Washington last winter, saying there wasn’t time for that on short notice.
Back home, Russia launched its heaviest strikes in a month in the hours before Zelenskiy’s arrival at Congress – killing three, igniting fires and damaging energy infrastructure as Russian missiles and artillery pounded cities across Ukraine.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan underscored Thursday that Biden would seek to drive home with Zelenskiy’s visit that the US and the world “send the unmistakable message that in the 21st century, a dictator cannot be allowed to conquer or carve up his neighbor’s territory”.
Russian president Vladimir Putin, who hopes to outlast allied backing for Kyiv, will be ready to capitalize if he sees Ukraine is running low on air defense or other weapons.
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