1 year ago
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WATCH: President Zelensky's US sojourn successful 90 seconds
Ukraine is "alive and kicking" and volition ne'er surrender, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, successful a defiant code to US lawmakers connected his archetypal overseas travel since Russia's invasion.
US subject assistance to Ukraine is not charity, but an concern successful information for the future, Mr Zelensky said.
His entreaty comes amid signs US enactment is apt to look greater scrutiny successful Congress from Republican lawmakers.
However, President Biden vowed to instrumentality by Ukraine "for arsenic agelong arsenic it takes".
Mr Biden pledged a caller $2bn (£1.7bn) assistance bundle and promised different $45bn.
At a associated quality conference, Mr Biden told reporters helium was "not astatine each worried" astir holding the planetary conjugation together.
Amid concerns that immoderate allies whitethorn beryllium feeling the strain of the conflict's outgo and disruption to planetary nutrient and vigor supplies, the US president said helium felt "very good" astir the solidarity of enactment for Ukraine.
Mr Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin had "no volition of stopping this cruel war".
As Ukraine's astir important ally, the US has already committed $50bn (£41bn) of humanitarian, fiscal and information assistance - acold much than immoderate different country.
Mr Zelensky - wearing his trademark combat-green sweatshirt and boots - expressed anticipation that Congress would walk an other $45bn successful assistance to Ukraine - presently earlier the US Senate - to "help america to support our values, values and independence".
Republicans - who volition instrumentality power of the House of Representatives successful January - person warned they volition not constitute a "blank cheque" for Ukraine.
But Mr Zelensky, who travelled connected a US Air Force pitchy from the Polish metropolis of Rzeszow, said that "regardless of changes successful the Congress", helium believed determination would beryllium bipartisan enactment for his country.
After the White House meeting, the 44-year-old Ukrainian president gave an code to a associated league of Congress, wherever helium was welcomed with a lasting ovation.
Speaking successful English, helium told US lawmakers his state was inactive lasting "against each odds" and predicted "a turning point" successful the struggle adjacent year.
While vowing Ukraine would ne'er surrender, helium said it needed much weaponry.
"We person artillery, yes, convey you," helium told his audience. "Is it enough? Honestly, not really."
"For the Russian service to wholly propulsion out, much cannon and shells are needed," helium added.
Concluding his speech, Mr Zelensky presented Congress with a conflict emblem signed by the defenders of Bakhmut, a frontline metropolis successful the eastbound of Ukraine that helium visited connected the eve of his Washington trip.
The bundle of information assistance announced by Washington connected Wednesday includes a caller Patriot rocket system, which is expected to assistance Ukraine support its cities from missiles and drones that Russia has fired astatine captious facilities.
A uncommon infinitesimal of levity arose successful Wednesday's quality league arsenic Mr Zelensky, a erstwhile comedian, answered reporters' questions.
The Ukrainian president said: "What's going to hap aft the Patriots are installed? After that we volition nonstop different awesome to President Biden that we would similar to get much Patriots."
"We are successful a war, I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry," helium deadpanned successful English, arsenic the assemblage successful the East Room laughed.
Mr Biden chuckled and said: "We're moving connected it."
Russia's overseas ministry has said the transportation of the precocious surface-to-air rocket strategy would beryllium considered a provocative step.
Earlier connected Wednesday, Mr Putin said helium believed his state was not to blasted for the warfare in Ukraine, adding some countries were "sharing a tragedy".
Since Russia invaded Ukraine connected 24 February, the US subject estimates that astatine slightest 100,000 Russian and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers person been killed oregon injured, on with immoderate 40,000 civilian deaths.
The UN has recorded 7.8 cardinal radical arsenic refugees from Ukraine across Europe, including Russia. However, the fig does not see those who person been forced to fly their homes but stay successful Ukraine.
English (US)