Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to journey to america on December 11 after receiving an invite from President Joe Biden to go to the White Home on December 12 on the heels of his go to to Argentina to satisfy with Latin American leaders.
Biden invited Zelenskiy to the White Home ”to underscore america’ unshakeable dedication to supporting the folks of Ukraine as they defend themselves in opposition to Russia’s brutal invasion,” White Home spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned in a assertion on December 10.
”As Russia ramps up its missile and drone strikes in opposition to Ukraine, the leaders will talk about Ukraine’s pressing wants and the very important significance of america’ continued help at this important second,” she added.
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Zelenskiy’s workplace mentioned on Telegram that the Ukrainian chief would arrive in Washington on December 11 for a ”collection of conferences and discussions” together with the White Home go to the next day.
The talks will give attention to protection cooperation between Washington and Kyiv, ”notably via joint initiatives on the manufacturing of weapons and air-defense programs, in addition to the coordination of efforts between our nations within the coming 12 months,” Zelenskiy’s workplace mentioned.
Zelenskiy has been invited to deal with U.S. senators on the Capitol on December 12 at 9 a.m., a Senate aide mentioned.
Zelenskiy on December 5 canceled a video tackle to U.S. senators as debate heated up on Biden’s almost $106 billion request for funding for the wars in Ukraine and Israel.
Zelenskiy had been anticipated to make Ukraine’s case for continued U.S. army assist as Ukraine braces for a troublesome winter on the battlefield and as Russian shelling and strikes proceed to kill civilians.
The Biden administration requested Congress in October to move the help bundle, which might cowl not solely assist for Ukraine and Israel but in addition border safety, however the Republican-controlled Home rejected the request.
Zelenskiy canceled the video tackle shortly after Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell (Republican-Kentucky) instructed fellow Republicans to vote in opposition to the measure when it got here to the ground.
The deliberate Washington go to would comply with Zelenskiy’s first journey to Latin America, the place he on December 10 thanked regional leaders for his or her help of his nation in its battle in opposition to the full-scale Russian invasion and the “battle for freedom and democracy.”
”The help and powerful united voice of Latin American nations that stand with the folks of Ukraine in our battle for freedom and democracy is essential for us,” Zelenskiy mentioned on social media after assembly with the leaders of Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay throughout his journey to Buenos Aires, the place he’s attending the inauguration of Argentinian President Javier Milei.
In discussions with Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou, the Ukrainian chief mentioned his nation was grateful to the South American nation ”for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Zelenskiy’s official Telegram channel mentioned the Ukrainian chief additionally thanked Paraguayan President Santiago Pena ”for his decisive help of Ukraine inside worldwide organizations.”
”With [Ecuadoran] President Daniel Noboa, they mentioned the probabilities of creating bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Ecuador: within the discipline of safety, digitalization, commerce in agricultural merchandise,” the Telegram assertion mentioned.
”It is rather essential for us to have the help and highly effective united voice of the nations of Latin America, which help the Ukrainian folks within the battle for our freedom and democracy,” Zelenskiy was quoted as saying.
The Telegram assertion mentioned Zelenskiy congratulated Milei on his election as Argentina’s new president.
”This can be a new starting for Argentina, and I specific my want that President Milei and all of the Argentinian folks will shock the world with their success. I’m additionally positive that bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Argentina will proceed to increase,” Zelenskiy was quoted as saying.
Previous to arriving in Argentina, Zelenskiy made a stopover go to to Cape Verde, a small island state off the west coast of Africa, in his newest bid to shore up help for Ukraine within the World South for Kyiv in its 21-month-old battle in opposition to Russia.
Zelenskiy met on December 9 with Cape Verde Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva in what he later known as in a social-media put up the ”first assembly of leaders within the historical past of our bilateral relations.”
Zelenskiy thanked Cape Verde for condemning Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and its backing of Ukrainian initiatives.
Zelenskiy is hoping to convene a ”international peace summit” and has promoted a peace plan rooted within the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and recognition of its post-Soviet borders of 1991.
Analysts say Kyiv has been attempting to construct ties with African, Asian, and Latin American governments, however has discovered its help for Israel at odds with the positions of a few of these nations.
In Cape Verde, Zelenskiy knowledgeable the African chief of efforts to develop new grain routes in addition to plans to create grain facilities in Africa, an announcement from Zelenskiy’s workplace mentioned.
In July, Russia refused to increase a UN-backed deal that had allowed Ukraine to export grain and different meals objects from three designated Black Sea ports. A lot of these agricultural exports have been destined for elements of Africa, the Center East, and Asia.
After pulling out of the settlement brokered by the UN and Turkey, Russia has attacked Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and grain infrastructure, destroying virtually 300,000 metric tons of grain, in response to a current estimate by the British authorities.
Another, non permanent Black Sea hall has allowed Ukraine to ship greater than 7 million tons of cargo via Black Sea ports regardless of Russia’s blockade, Ukrainian officers mentioned on December 4.
In the meantime, whereas in Argentina for Milei’s inauguration, Zelenskiy met briefly with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a bid to resolve variations over Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership.
Orban’s workplace confirmed he had met with Zelenskiy and that EU membership points have been mentioned, nevertheless it didn’t present particulars.
Earlier this week it was reported that Orban had written European Council President Charles Michel to demand that Ukraine’s membership be taken off the agenda at an EU summit subsequent week.
That summit in Brussels will resolve on whether or not to begin talks with Ukraine and neighboring Moldova — as really helpful by the EU Govt Fee — on their bids to affix the 27-member bloc. EU leaders can even resolve on the discharge of fifty billion euros ($55 billion) in assist for Ukraine.
Orban is taken into account considered one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies in Europe, and his nationalist authorities has argued in opposition to EU sanctions on Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On the battlefield on December 10, Ukraine reported that Russian shelling within the Kherson area hit residential buildings and wounded two civilians, a 37-year-old man and a 52-year-old girl.
Moscow has denied concentrating on civilian areas regardless of widespread proof of such assaults.
Russian forces in current weeks have been making an attempt to regain territory they misplaced to a Ukrainian blitz offensive final 12 months, with heavy losses reported. Ukrainian losses have additionally been heavy, however official figures are inconceivable to acquire.