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This is the first time Ukraine's president has left the country since the Russian invasion began. During Zelensky's visit, Biden will announce a new military aid package including a new air defence system

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zelensky-ucrania-guerra-rusia
Margarita Arredondas
Updated: 22/12/22

300 days after the start of Russia's invasion, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky travels to Washington. During his visit to the US capital - the first since the war began - Zelensky will meet his counterpart Joe Biden in the White House Oval Office, address Congress and hold a series of meetings with members of the US national security team. The visit to Congress comes at a time when several Republicans have criticised or expressed dissatisfaction with the level of US support for Ukraine. 

Washington has become Kiev's biggest ally during the brutal Russian invasion. The US government has approved numerous aid packages for Ukraine, both military and economic. Taking advantage of Zelensky's visit - which is expected to last only a few hours - Biden will announce nearly $2 billion in additional assistance to Ukraine, including a Patriot surface-to-air missile system, CNN reports.

Zelensky's visit to Washington reaffirms the US commitment to Ukraine during the war against Russia. "Biden will reiterate to Zelensky, to the Ukrainian people, to the American people and to the world, that the United States will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," a senior official tells the US media outlet.

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"We know the conflict will continue. The winter will be hard and we will continue day in and day out to provide critical support to the Ukrainian people," he adds. The two are also expected to have a "strategic and in-depth conversation about the way forward on the battlefield".

According to administration sources consulted by CNN, Biden and Zelensky first discussed the trip on 11 December during a phone call. Thereafter, security preparations began. The sources declined to provide details about Zelensky's trip.

However, they did reveal that the Ukrainian leader "was very interested" in visiting the US. Likewise, this visit was something that the Biden administration had wanted to do "for some time". 

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Russia has already spoken out about the trip, warning that Zelensky's visit to Washington would lead to an 'aggravation of the conflict'. "This does not bode well for Ukraine," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Since the beginning of the invasion, Moscow has condemned the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine, in particular the numerous US arms packages.

"The president has made it very clear that we will be firm in our support for Ukraine on the military, economic, energy and humanitarian fronts, but we are not seeking to engage in a direct war with Russia," the official stressed. 

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During these 10 months of war, Zelensky has not stopped asking for international aid for his country. In addition to addressing the parliaments of numerous countries with the aim of obtaining such support, the Ukrainian president has also participated in media events such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Grammys. Zelensky even sent a recorded speech to FIFA to be broadcast during the end of the World Cup in Qatar, but the sporting organisation chose to reject it. "We thought FIFA wanted to use its platform for the common good," a member of the Ukrainian government lamented to CNN. "FIFA has lost its valuable understanding of football as a game that brings people together," he added.

Zelensky moves to "the hottest spot on the entire front"

Zelensky will visit Washington just a day after travelling to Bajmut, the current hotspot of the war in Ukraine. The strategic Donbas city has been the scene of violent and intense fighting in recent weeks. 

As the Ukrainian president noted, Bajmut is currently "the hottest point on the whole front". The Russian army, together with members of the Wagner Group, has reduced the town to ruins. During his visit to the town, which before the war was home to 70,000 inhabitants, Zelensky met with servicemen, spoke with them and decorated them, according to the Kiev press service. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the situation as "extremely difficult" and has called for operations in the area to be stepped up. "The emergence of new threats and challenges places great demands on the entire system of Russia's security agencies," Putin was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency TASS.

Coordinator Americas: José Antonio Sierra

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