It has been 300 days since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, President Zelensky has not left the country.
However, the White House and Zelensky himself confirm on Wednesday morning Swedish time that the Ukrainian president will visit the United States during the day. Zelenskyy will meet with Biden and speak in the US Congress.
Biden and Zelenskyi will discuss the weapons and training that the US and other allies provide Ukraine with, but also sanctions and other means of pressure against Russia. Financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine must also be addressed, according to the White House.
However, Zelenskyi will not be pressured to start talks with Putin, according to the White House.
Coincides with new support package
The visit also coincides with an aid package for Ukraine that the US Congress will hammer out. The package will contain Patriot missiles and be worth 44.9 billion dollars, corresponding to roughly 450 billion kroner.
Patriot is seen as crucial in helping Kyiv fend off Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
The decision to provide Ukraine with the Patriot has been made despite imminent threats from Moscow that it will be seen as a provocation and that the Russian military will see the weapon system as a legitimate target.
It is not yet clear when the Patriot can be delivered to the front lines of the war, as the Ukrainian soldiers must undergo training to be able to handle the high-tech weapon system. The training may take several weeks and is expected to take place in Germany. Even in the past, all training from the American side has taken place in various places in Europe.
“A strong signal”
The visit sends “a strong signal of unity and determination from the White House, from Washington, from the free world, from all countries that support Ukraine,” said a White House official.
The visit also takes place on the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to meet with the country’s top military leaders to lay out his military plans for 2023.