President Zelenskyy to Visit Washington This Week as Biden Administration Pushes for Additional $24 Billion in Aid for Ukraine

Washington, DC – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Washington this week, at a critical juncture for his alliance with the United States. President Joe Biden has requested an additional $24 billion in security and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, in line with his promise to help the country for “as long as it takes” to oust Russia from its borders.

At the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, President Biden denounced the Russian invasion of and war against Ukraine and renewed his promise of continued United States support. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has stated that he wants more Ukraine aid to be debated on its own merits.

The additional aid package is part of a larger effort by the Biden administration to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The United States has already provided Ukraine with more than $1.5 billion in security assistance since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and began a war against Ukraine.

The Biden administration has also been working to strengthen diplomatic ties with Ukraine, and has appointed a special envoy to the country. The envoy, Ambassador William Taylor, has been working to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The visit by President Zelenskyy this week is seen as a key step in the Biden administration’s efforts to support Ukraine. It is unclear, however, if the additional aid package will be approved by Congress. The debate over the package is expected to be a major focus of the visit.