WASHINGTON: When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returns to Capitol Hill, the atmosphere is notably grimmer compared to his triumphant reception last winter, with the Russian invasion persisting into its third year and uncertain U.S. funding on the line.
Zelenskyy’s upcoming visit coincides with President Joe Biden’s plea for an extra $110 billion in aid for Ukraine, and Israel, and crucial national security requirements, facing a precarious chance of failure in Congress. Republicans are pushing for stringent U.S.-Mexico border security reforms that Democrats oppose as excessively harsh in return for international aid.
“It is maddening,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a close ally of Biden, of the stalemate. “A very bad message to the world, to the Ukrainian people.”
The White House emphasized the timeliness of Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington as Biden urged swift approval of the aid package before the year-end holidays. However, as anticipation grew grim on the eve of his arrival at the Capitol, Zelenskyy is set to hold private meetings with senators, including the new House Speaker Mike Johnson. His agenda includes discussions with Biden at the White House, where the once-solid bipartisan backing for Ukraine appears to be slipping further away.
Preceding Zelenskyy’s crucial discussions, the White House late on Monday highlighted newly declassified intelligence revealing Ukraine’s substantial impact on Russia in recent Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis confrontations, citing 13,000 casualties and over 220 combat vehicles lost. The Ukrainian resistance in the occupied eastern regions has witnessed some of the most intense battles in recent times.
U.S. intelligence assessments indicate Russian aspirations for a winter military stalemate to weaken Western support for Ukraine, despite facing significant setbacks and grappling with persistent shortages of trained personnel, ammunition, and equipment.
“Russia is determined to press forward with its offensive despite its losses. It is more critical now than ever that we maintain our support for Ukraine so they can continue to hold the line and regain their territory,” said White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson. She added that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is clearly watching what happens in Congress — and we need Congress to act this month to support Ukraine in its time of need.”
