WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived on the US Capitol on Thursday as Republican skeptics query whether or not Congress ought to approve a brand new spherical of support for his nation regardless of gradual progress combating Russian invaders.
Zelenskiy traveled to Washington after searching for to shore up worldwide help on the United Nations, on a crosstown blitz that features conferences with US President Joe Biden and army leaders on the Pentagon and an handle within the night on the National Archives museum.
Zelenskiy will meet with leaders of the Republican-led House of Representatives and House nationwide safety committees earlier than a non-public session with the total US Senate.
While Biden and most congressional leaders nonetheless help support to Ukraine, and Biden’s Democrats management the Senate, Zelenskiy will face a harder crowd than when he visited Washington 9 months in the past.
As Ukraine’s army counteroffensive grinds on and Congress levels a bitter debate over spending forward of a doable authorities shutdown, a rising refrain of Republicans have questioned the billions of {dollars} Washington has despatched Kyiv for army, financial and humanitarian wants.
The US has despatched some $113 billion in safety and humanitarian support to assist Zelenskiy’s authorities since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Russia carried out its largest missile assault in weeks throughout Ukraine on Thursday, pounding power amenities in what officers stated seemed to be the primary salvo in a brand new air marketing campaign in opposition to the Ukrainian energy grid.
Zelenskiy on Wednesday pressed his case for monetary assist with a few of America’s greatest identified billionaires who made their fortunes in industries starting from finance to tech and sports activities.
Biden administration officers held a categorised briefing for Congress on Wednesday night, to push for an extra $24 billion, saying if Russian President Vladimir Putin was allowed to take management of Ukraine and pushed via to the border of NATO, the associated fee to the United States can be a lot larger.
But some Republicans weren’t satisfied.
“If there’s some path to victory in Ukraine, I didn’t hear it today. And I also heard that there’s going to be no end to the funding requests,” Republican Senator Josh Hawley, a vocal critic of Ukraine support, informed reporters.
Biden will announce a brand new $325 million army support bundle for Ukraine, which is predicted to incorporate the second tranche of cluster munitions fired by a 155 millimeter Howitzer cannon.
“If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?” Biden requested world leaders on the United Nations on Tuesday.
Congress accredited Ukraine help simply when each the Senate and House have been managed by Democrats. Zelenskiy, who has turn into a robust advocate for his nation, was greeted as a hero when he addressed a joint assembly of Congress in December.
Support within the Senate, each from Biden’s fellow Democrats and Republicans, has remained sturdy.
“Our nation has a fundamental interest in Ukrainian victory and European security,” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell stated in a Senate speech on Wednesday, the place he criticized Biden for performing too slowly to assist Ukraine.
Solid majorities of Americans help offering weaponry to Ukraine to defend itself in opposition to Russia, Reuters/Ipsos polling reveals.
But a few of the Republicans who took slim management of the House in January are questioning the knowledge of continuous to ship funds to Kyiv. About a 3rd of the House Republican caucus voted in July for a failed proposal to chop funding for Ukraine.
Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy didn’t prepare a gathering on Thursday the place Zelenskiy might make his case for continued help to all the House, only a small assembly with himself and some different leaders. McCarthy, who as speaker controls what laws comes up for House votes, stated Zelenskiy wanted to persuade him to again continued support.
“Is Zelenskiy elected to Congress? Is he our president? I don’t have to commit anything,” McCarthy informed reporters on Tuesday. “I have questions for him. Where’s the accountability on the money we’ve already spent? What is the plan for victory? I think that’s what the American public wants to know.” — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
