Three hundred days after the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, a European head of state was received on Wednesday as a hero in Washington for his first international trip since the start of the Russian offensive on February 24, a trip under exceptional security conditions. and just a few hours, during which Joe Biden promised him new financial assistance and, for the first time, the delivery of a Patriot air defense system.
“Your money is not charity, it is an investment in global security and democracy, which we manage in the most responsible way,” Zelensky assured the elected Americans, who greeted him with a standing ovation and several times rose to applause. him during the performance.
American parliamentarians are preparing to vote on a massive new support package for Ukraine, which is almost $45 billion. The United States, by far the largest donor to Ukraine, has provided an estimated nearly $50 billion in aid to the country at war to date, including $20 billion in arms and military aid.
“Ukraine is alive and fighting”
“Contrary to the darkest predictions, Ukraine did not fall. Ukraine is alive and fighting,” said Volodymyr Zelensky, dressed in a khaki pullover with a Ukrainian trident. She “holds her ground and will never give up.”
He also linked the fight against Russia to the threat posed by Iran, referring to the two “terrorist” states, a topic dear to the Republican camp, which criticizes Democratic President Joe Biden for being too complacent in the face of Tehran.
He then presented House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice Speaker Kamala Harris, Speaker of the Senate, with a Ukrainian flag from Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine that is currently warmer from the front and covered in soldier signatures. In return, they presented him with an American flag, which was raised over the Capitol on Wednesday to commemorate his historic visit to the capital.
New weapons, including Patriot air defense
Earlier, he was received at the White House by his colleague Joe Biden, who assured at a joint press conference that the United States would support his country “for as long as necessary.” The American president also pledged to “continue to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself” by committing to provide it with a state-of-the-art Patriot air defense system. Joe Biden also said he was “not bothered at all” by the strength of the Western alliance in the face of a Russian invasion. “I have never seen NATO or the EU so united,” he said. “Putin thought he would weaken NATO, instead he strengthened NATO.”
The Patriot system, which the United States will provide to Kyiv, will “significantly” increase Ukraine’s defense against Russian strikes, he thanked, seeing it as “a very important step in creating a safe airspace for Ukraine.” “This is a defensive system,” the American president emphasized in turn. “This is not an escalation measure, this is a defensive measure,” he insisted.
“Today’s aid tranche includes, for the first time, a Patriot air defense system capable of shooting down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at significantly higher altitudes than air defense systems that have been provided before,” he said. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also insisted that a “just peace” meant “no compromises” on Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Source: Le Parisien
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
