Joe Biden Meets with Volodymyr Zelensky, Announces New $200 Million Aid Package for Ukraine
US President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Tuesday. During the meeting, the US president announced the allocation of another $200 million in military aid to Ukraine and assured of further support, ABC News reports.
"I have just signed a decision to allocate another $200 million in military aid by writing off US Department of Defence property for Ukraine. It will come quickly," Joe Biden said before the start of bilateral talks with Zelenskyy.
The US president also stressed the need for Congress to approve additional funding for Kyiv, stressing that if it does not, it could become a "Christmas present" for Vladimir Putin. At the same time, Biden assured Zelenskyy that the United States would stand by Ukraine even if Republicans blocked the aid package.
The meeting of the presidents took place as part of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the United States, where he has already met with US lawmakers to seek their support in securing additional funding for Kyiv.
In particular, Volodymyr Zelenskyy also met with senators on Tuesday, accompanied by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Leaving the meeting room more than an hour after the meeting began, Chuck Schumer called the meeting "productive" and told reporters that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had outlined the help he needed and how it would help Ukraine defeat the Russian occupiers.
Schumer also said that Zelenskyy made it clear that he "needs help quickly" and said that any delay would lead to European allies questioning the credibility of the United States.
"I am grateful to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for their personal leadership in rallying bipartisan support for Ukraine among American lawmakers," Zelenskyy said.
The President of Ukraine also met with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who called the meeting "good" and said he had reaffirmed to Zelenskyy that they "stand with him against Putin's brutal invasion".
As a reminder, the US Congress has not yet approved Biden's request for additional funding to help Ukraine due to opposition from some Republicans. According to media reports, the Biden administration is considering concessions on migration policy in order to secure new aid for Ukraine and Israel in the supplemental funding bill.