Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has struggled to convince US Republicans to back a new $61bn military aid package for Ukraine during a trip to Washington.
Volodymyr Zelensky addressed members of the Senate in a closed-door 90-minute meeting Tuesday morning, but afterwards key Republicans reiterated that in exchange for supporting the package, they want to see immigration restricted between the US and Mexico.
Speaking afterwards, Lindsey Graham, a senator from South Carolina, told reporters he told Zelensky the issue “has nothing to do with you”. He added:
I said: ‘You’ve done everything anybody could ask of you. This is not your problem here.’
The senior Republican accused the White House of failing to address the southern border issue and called on the “commander in chief” – Joe Biden – to get personally involved in the negotiations.
Last week, Senate Republicans blocked an emergency aid package aimed primarily at Ukraine and Israel after conservatives complained about the exclusion from the package of immigration policy changes they demanded.
Zelensky tried to convince senators that US military aid would not be wasted because of corruption, as Republican Mike Rounds told CNN. He also said Ukraine needed more air defence systems to support another counter-offensive.
Joe Biden and Zelensky reiterated their belief that the US should pass a significant package of additional aid to Ukraine in its war, but acknowledged that Republicans on Capitol Hill are delaying the process by seeking concessions from Biden and Democrats on immigration policy and, in particular, the southern border. Of course, that was the position at the press conference after Zelensky went to the Hill and met with senators and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Biden ordered $200 million in aid to the Pentagon as part of the “drawdown” – a process to more quickly provide ammunition, missiles to allies in need. Neither leader risked making predictions about how Donald Trump’s second term might turn out for Ukraine.
Biden did not have good news for Zelensky on NATO membership. During a press conference, a Ukrainian reporter asked about NATO:
What does Zelensky expect from the Washington summit next year and does he hope for membership and does Biden support such membership?
Volodymyr Zelensky replied:
I will answer very quickly on this very complicated question. We are allies but we are not members of NATO. So I will pass this very complicated question to our big friend, President Biden.
Joe Biden answered :
NATO will be in Ukraine’s future, no question … Ukraine will become a member of NATO when all allies agree, and conditions are met.
Biden then says, “Thank you all very much”, which begins the shouting of extra questions as the two leaders take their leave from the room.
