USA: In his first known trip outside the nation since Russia's invasion began in February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was traveling to Washington on Wednesday for a meeting with President Joe Biden and to address a joint session of Congress.
After 10 months of brutal war that resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries on both sides of the conflict as well as devastation for Ukrainian civilians, the highly sensitive visit is taking place.
Additionally, it comes as the Pentagon prepares to deploy Patriot surface-to-air missiles in the country for self-defense and US lawmakers prepare to vote on a year-end spending package including nearly $45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine.
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Zelensky on Tuesday traveled to the town of Bakhmut in Ukraine's disputed Donetsk province, which he described as the "hottest spot" on the conflict's 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) front line. As artillery exploded in the background, he praised the Ukrainian soldiers for their "courage, resilience and strength".
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Tuesday night that Biden is looking forward to the trip and that his speech to Congress will show "strong, bipartisan support for Ukraine."
The visit, according to the official, "will highlight the United States' firm commitment to support Ukraine through the provision of economic, humanitarian and military assistance for as long as it takes."
US and Ukrainian officials have made it clear that they do not see an immediate end to the war and are prepared for it to go on for some time. Biden has emphasized that although the US will provide weapons and training to Ukraine, the US military will not directly participate in the fighting.
On December 11, during their most recent phone call, Biden and Zelensky first broached the subject of a trip to Washington, and three days later, a formal invitation arrived, according to a senior US administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Gave information to journalists under the condition of. Due to the delicate nature of travel.
The invitation was accepted by Zelensky on Friday, and was officially confirmed on Sunday when the White House began working with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to plan the address to Congress.
The White House discussed security for Zelensky's departure from Ukraine and his trip to Washington, including the possibility of Russian action while Zelensky was temporarily abroad, the official said, adding that security measures for the Ukrainian president He declined to elaborate further on the steps taken.
According to the official, despite the visit, the US expected Russia to continue to attack civilian targets and Ukrainian military targets.
The US funding pending before Congress would be the largest ever US aid to Ukraine, exceeding Biden's $37 billion emergency request. Its purpose is to guarantee that support for the war effort will continue for months to come.
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The United States was also planning to announce on Wednesday that it would send a $1.8 billion military aid package to Ukraine, which will include for the first time Patriot missile batteries and precision-guided bombs for its fighters, according to US officials.
The aid indicates the US will send more sophisticated weapons to Ukraine to help bolster its air defenses against an increasing barrage of Russian missiles in recent weeks.
According to officials, the package will include about $1 billion in weapons from the Pentagon's stockpile and $800 million in funding from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
Despite threats from Russia's foreign ministry that the delivery of the sophisticated surface-to-air missile system would be seen as provocative and the Patriot and any crew aboard would be a legitimate target for Moscow's military, Made the decision to send Patriot Battery.
Since US troops will need to instruct Ukrainian forces on how to use the sophisticated system, it is unclear when the Patriot will arrive on the front lines in Ukraine.
It is estimated that the training will take place in Germany and could last for several weeks. The US and its Western allies have so far only trained the Ukrainian military in Europe.
The visit comes at a critical time as the White House prepares for tougher protests after Republicans took control of the House in January and scrutinize aid to Ukraine more closely. Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has said his party's lawmakers will not give Ukraine a "blank check".
As the White House organizes new shipments of military aid to Ukraine, Biden and Zelensky have spoken frequently by phone. The conversation was generally cordial, with Zelensky thanking the US president for his support and Biden praising Ukraine for standing firm against the Russians.
Zelensky received word from Biden that a further $1 billion package was on its way to Ukraine. Zelensky listed the additional assistance he claimed Ukraine needed without missing a beat.
That infuriated Biden, who stressed to Zelensky the generosity of the American people. Officials familiar with the incident say that despite the brief period of tension, no long-term problems have resulted from it.
Pelosi, who paid Zelensky a visit earlier this year in Kyiv, urged lawmakers to attend the session on Wednesday night.
In a letter to her colleagues on Tuesday, Pelosi said, "We are ending a very special session of the 117th Congress with legislation that advances the interests of the American people and supports our Democracy. "Please join us Wednesday night for a very special focus on democracy."
She later said of Ukrainians at the Capitol, "They are fighting for democracy for all of us."
The Feb. 24 invasion by Russia has slowed down. Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia, which were illegitimately annexed, are still hotly contested.
Moscow has attacked Ukraine's power infrastructure with missiles and drones as the fighting in the east has reached a standstill in an effort to deprive residents of electricity as winter weather approaches.
Zelensky was presented with a Ukrainian flag and made reference to presenting it to US leaders in a video from the Bakhmut visit that was made public by his office.
In the video, Zelensky said, "The guys handed over our beautiful Ukrainian flag with their signatures for us to pass on." "Our situation is not straightforward.
The enemy's army is growing. Because they are braver, our people require stronger weapons. We will convey it from the boys to the United States Congress and President. We appreciate their assistance,
Putin praised the "courage and self-denial" of his troops in Ukraine on Tuesday, but he did so in a ceremony in an opulent and glittering hall at the Kremlin in Moscow, not on the battlefield.
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Putin gave awards to the leaders of the four regions of Ukraine that were forcibly annexed at the Kremlin ceremony. He praised the security personnel stationed in the four regions in a video speech honouring Russia's military and security agencies, saying that "people there, Russian citizens, count on being protected by you."
Putin acknowledged the difficulties the security personnel were facing.
Yes, it's challenging for you, he said, adding that it's "extremely challenging" in the regions.