Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was greeted with handshakes from President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden as he arrived at the White House on Dec. 21—the 300th day of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Ukrainian leader’s plane landed around noon before he joined Biden in making brief remarks before the two men had a meeting in the Oval Office.
The trip marks Zelenskyy’s first foreign visit since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
Zelenskyy and Biden are scheduled to co-host a White House press conference at 4:30 p.m., and then Zelenskyy will deliver a speech at a joint meeting of Congress at about 7:30 p.m.
Earlier today, the Biden administration announced a new $1.85 billion aid package to Ukraine which includes a Patriot missile defense system, which is designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles.
Joint Direct Attack Munitions kits, which convert aerial munitions into smart bombs, and armored vehicles, ammunition, and mortars, are also part of the package.
Discussion in the Senate continues for a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package that includes $45 billion in aid to Ukraine. That figure is $7 billion higher than the Biden administration requested.
Reports indicate that Biden and Zelenskyy will talk about the additional aid.
In a call with reporters ahead of Zelenskyy’s visit, a senior Biden administration official said, “Russia expected that this war would be quick work, that they would be in Kyiv and dominating the country within a matter of days. But here we are 300 days later, and Ukraine stands, Kyiv stands, the Ukrainian people stand.”
Before the two leaders walked into their meeting, Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is focused on attacking Ukraine’s infrastructure during the harsh winter, depriving Ukrainian citizens of heat and other resources.
“Hard to believe, 300 days going through this, and Putin has waged a brutal assault on the Ukrainians’ right to exist as a nation, and the attack on innocent Ukrainian people for no reason other than to intimidate,” Biden said.
In June, Biden reportedly lost his temper and raised his voice in a phone conversation with Zelenskyy as the Ukrainian leader asked for more aid. Media reports indicated that Biden told Zelenskyy that he should be more thankful for the support he had received to that point.
With the additional $1.85 million in funding announced on Dec. 21, the United States has now given around $21.9 billion in financial support to Ukraine as Zelenskyy is prepared to address Congress and encourage the passage of the omnibus package.
Upon arriving in Washington, Zelenskyy said it was “a great honor” to be in the White House and told Biden, “All my appreciations, from my heart, from the heart of all Ukrainians.”
