Aware of the risk of weariness on the part of the great American ally, Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington on Thursday to try to convince the United States to help him cross “the finish line” against Russia, if possible with new powerful weapons.
In his usual khaki outfit, Mr. Zelensky arrived in the morning at the American Congress, where elected officials are debating possible new military and humanitarian aid for his country at war.
“Air defense will be one of the main priorities” during the meetings planned in the American capital, he had earlier said on X (formerly Twitter).
The mood has changed since his December 21, 2022 visit to the US capital.
This trip, his first abroad since the invasion by Russia in February of the same year, had been prepared in the greatest secrecy. The images of the Ukrainian president under the colonnades of the White House, and acclaimed in Congress, already belong to history.
Since then, the sense of urgency has faded, and the Republican opposition has taken control of one of the chambers of parliament. This time Volodymyr Zelensky was not received with great fanfare at the Capitol, the seat of Congress.
But he must meet leaders of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party there.
The most anticipated interview, and the most difficult, will be with the Republican boss of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy.
“I have questions for him. Can he account for the money we have already spent? What is the strategy for victory? “, launched the conservative leader on Tuesday, under pressure from the right wing of his party to cut off supplies to Kiev.
This financial aspect is further complicated by the very short-term risk of a budgetary paralysis in the United States, if parliamentarians cannot agree before October 1 on at least a provisional finance law.
The discussions stumble, in part, on the budget devoted to military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
It is “vital” that Congress release the $24 billion requested by the executive branch to support the Ukrainians, John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said Wednesday.
“Those who think the cost of supporting Ukraine today is high, just imagine how exorbitant it would become, in blood and money, if we give up, if we let (Russian President Vladimir Putin) take all Ukraine and finds himself in a much stronger position,” he said.
Volodymyr Zelensky must also pass through the Pentagon on Thursday, before being received, accompanied by his wife, by Joe and Jill Biden, at 7:00 p.m. GMT.
This will be followed by a meeting between the two presidents in the Oval Office and then a meeting extended to delegations from the two countries.
The American president, the great leader of the Western response to the Russian invasion, is also aware of the risk of running out of steam, as the conflict continues and winter approaches.
“Russia believes that the world will tire and let it brutalize Ukraine without consequences,” warned Joe Biden, who must run for a second term next year, at the United Nations on Tuesday.
During an exceptional session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Volodymyr Zelensky for his part denounced Moscow’s “criminal aggression” and “the blocking” of the UN body due to Russia’s right of veto.
“We are at the finish line,” the Ukrainian president stressed in an interview with CNN, after anonymous American officials expressed reservations in the press about Ukrainian military strategy.
Joe Biden wants to “get an idea of ??what is happening on the battlefield”, but also “to tell President Zelensky very clearly that we are with them as long as it takes”, John Kirby said on Wednesday.
The visit of the Ukrainian president is logically accompanied by speculation about a new announcement of American military aid.
In addition to the anti-aircraft defense mentioned Thursday morning, Mr. Zelensky admitted to CNN the day before that he would feel “a certain disappointment” if he did not leave Washington with the promise of receiving long-range ATACMS tactical missiles.
The White House has so far responded cautiously to this latest request. The delivery of such missiles is “not excluded”, underlined John Kirby, ensuring however that “no decision (had) been taken”.
21/09/2023 16:17:03 – Washington (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
