About a year ago, Volodymyr Zelensky was recognized and treated as a hero by the United States Congress. Then Republicans and Democrats stood and applauded several times. president of ukraine He made a speech in the Parliament. This Tuesday, its Third visit to the Capitol, Everything is different.
Zelensky stars in trip to Washington speed and marked with a an almost hopeless appeal legislators should maintain military and economic aid and 61 billion dollar demand for Kiev That’s what President Joe Biden is pitching to Congress as part of a nearly $111,000 million package that also includes aid to Israel to stop China and strengthen security at the border.
But this possibility it’s getting further and further away., given that Republicans oppose giving the green light if approval is not received counterparts in migration representing the demands unacceptable for democratsIt’s a conflict that led conservatives to succeed in stopping Biden’s package last week.
Meetings at the White House and Capitol Hill
He remains a firm ally of the president, with whom Zelensky will meet at the White House and hold a joint press conference after that meeting. But hours earlier during his visit to Capitol Hill meetings held behind closed doors Firstly senators and then with it Speaker of the House of RepresentativesUltraconservative Mike Johnson was able to see firsthand the obstacles he faced in Congress.
Republicans there don’t seem willing to change their positions, even after listening loudly and in person. prayers Zelensky warned them in their meetings Russia’s victory in war will worsen migration crisisprecisely the argument for why conservatives are blocking aid.
Republicans insist on demanding Democrats and Biden concede restricting asylum applications, another program refugees Administration and rapid spread of shoots In exchange for approving more funding to Ukraine. And this is even more It’s doubtful they’ll postpone the break for the Christmas break. Negotiations will resume at the end of this week, with the possibility of allowing aid to Kiev before the end of the year, a moment the White House has already marked as critical. In fact, a Republican senator said this Tuesday: “ options are empty.”
Dismissal of accusations
After his private meeting with Zelensky, which lasted about half an hour, Johnson appeared before the press and assured the Ukrainian leader that he was “on his side and against Vladimir Putin’s brutal occupation.” But Johnson has also shown himself unshakable. He blamed the White House for the stroke approval of further aid. “Biden wants billions without a clear strategy For Ukraine, without adequate controls over funds and without the answers he owes the American people,” he said.
Statements from Johnson and other lawmakers indicate that: nothing has changed and will not move Even a U.S. immigration deal looming on the horizon leaves little room for anything outside the deal. pessimism about new funds. And it turns out to be a dead end critical moment worsening for Ukraine counterattack failureThis explains why sources from Kiev came to the United States with a dramatic message. “Is matter of life and death “For Ukraine,” an unnamed Zelensky adviser told The New York Times. “The message is “Every second counts.”
Already in a conversation with US national security officials at the National Defense University in Washington on Monday, Zelensky warned of the dangers of Ukraine failing in this conflict. ““When the free world is in doubt, dictators celebrate.”, aforementioned. “If anyone is inspired by the unresolved problems in Congress, it is Putin and his sick clique.” Zelensky also warned that his country was “nothing more than a state.” First step for Russia” and Moscow’s “ 19th century ,” which includes countries in Russia today. He said that he would want to take back the lands of the 11th century Russian Empire. east wing NATO.
At the same event on Monday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd AustinI insisted onThe importance of the USA “keeping its word” We will continue to support Ukraine. “The United States will be safer if we stand up to Putin’s increasingly aggressive Russia,” the Pentagon chief said. “Putin still believes he can outlast Ukraine, but he is wrong,” he said. “If we stop supporting Ukraine now, it will only lead to more bloodshed, more aggression and attacks.”