by Steve Holland, Kanishka Singh and Humeyra Pamuk
WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky will travel to Washington on Wednesday, his first known foreign visit since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a decade ago, where he will meet his American counterpart Joe Biden and will address Congress.
The information, revealed on Tuesday evening by the information site Punchbowl News, was confirmed Wednesday morning by the American administration and by President Zelensky himself.
“On the way to the United States to strengthen the resilience and defense capabilities of Ukraine,” said the Ukrainian head of state on Twitter, after visiting the front line in Bakhmout the day before, in eastern Ukraine.
A senior US official has clarified that Joe Biden will unveil nearly $2 billion (1.88 billion euros) in new military aid for Ukraine which will include a battery of Patriot missiles to help Kyiv defend against the Russian missile raids.
This visit, organized in the greatest secrecy for security reasons, should last several hours. Volodimir Zelensky will speak with Joe Biden and his national security advisers, participate in a joint press conference with the leader of the White House, then head to the Capitol to deliver a speech to elected officials of the Senate and House representatives.
In a statement, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Joe Biden had invited his Ukrainian counterpart to underscore “the United States’ enduring commitment to Ukraine.”
“This visit will underscore the unwavering commitment of the United States to support Ukraine for as long as it takes, through the provision of economic, humanitarian and military assistance,” she said.
SOLIDARITY AND DETERMINATION
Zelensky’s trip across the Atlantic comes 300 days after the start of the Russian invasion operation on February 24.
According to the senior US official, Joe Biden will send Volodimir Zelensky a message of determination and will not seek to induce the Ukrainian president to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“They will discuss every element of this conflict, including the situation on the ground and how the war will evolve,” the official said.
“The president is not coming with a message to push or incite Zelensky into anything. It will be a message of solidarity and support, coordination and alignment.”
The Biden administration has so far provided Ukraine with crucial military aid amounting to around $20 billion including ammunition for artillery and air defense systems as well as multiple rocket launchers HIMARS.
The delivery of Patriot missiles is aimed at defending Ukrainian territory against Russian missile strikes. Ukrainian forces will be trained in their use by a third country, said the senior official contacted by Reuters.
Germany will probably be the country in charge of this training, Reuters learned last week.
Joe Biden and Volodimir Zelensky raised the possibility of a visit by the latter to the United States on December 11 during a telephone interview. The White House sent him a formal invitation three days later, the senior official said.
The Ukrainian president accepted the invitation last Friday and the visit was confirmed on Sunday. Joe Biden has considered going to Ukraine, but this project has been put aside for the moment for security reasons. (French version Jean-Stéphane Brosse)