Zelenskyy arrives at US Congress to hold talks on aid to Ukraine

This is reported by the Voice of America.

The Ukrainian president met with US senators in Congress. The main topic of discussion was the new funding for assistance to Ukraine, which is part of US President Joe Biden's request for more than USD 100 billion.

Zelenskyy met with Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The meetings were held behind closed doors.

He will also hold talks with US House Speaker Mike Johnson, where the key topic will be assistance to Ukraine.

Comments by US senators

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday was "very powerful," CNN reports.

According to Schumer, Zelenskyy described in great detail what Ukraine needs and how the United States can help the country defend itself against Russia.

"If he gets the help he needs, he will win," Schumer said. "If we lose, Putin wins, and that is very, very dangerous for the United States.”

According to the Democratic senator from New York, Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine needs help quickly.

According to Republican Senator Tom Tillis, Zelenskyy was greeted warmly. He urged them to provide aid to Ukraine and did not put pressure on the issue of border policy in the bill on financing aid.

Next, the Ukrainian president is to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson and US President Joe Biden.

Johnson told reporters "not at all" when asked if there had been any changes in his approach to helping Ukraine ahead of his first one-on-one meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Johnson said that any future aid to Ukraine should also include border security and be voted on separately from aid to Israel, leading to a stalemate with the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's first comment

“In the United States Senate, I had a friendly and candid conversation. I informed members of the US Senate about Ukraine’s current military and economic situation, the significance of sustaining vital US support, and answered their questions,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media X. 

He expressed his gratitude to Senate Majority Leader Sam Schumer and Republican Mitch McConnell for their personal leadership in rallying bipartisan support for Ukraine among US lawmakers.

• On December 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began a visit to Washington and met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
• He also met with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President Ajay Banga. During the meeting, they approved the USD 900 million tranche for Ukraine.
• Later, a meeting was held with the heads of American defense companies to discuss joint weapons production.