Shortly before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in the United States on his first trip abroad since the start of the Russian invasion, the US State Department confirmed that Washington will send an additional $1.85 billion in military aid to Kyiv, including the first transfer of the Patriot air defense system.
“This will bring total US military aid to Ukraine to an unprecedented $21.9 billion since the beginning of this administration,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
“Today’s aid for the first time includes the Patriot Air Defense System, capable of taking down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft on a significantly higher ceiling than previously provided air defense systems,” he added.
According to information from the American press, Zelensky is already in the United States and will speak with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House in the afternoon. The two presidents will then speak at a press conference, and Zelensky will address a joint session of Congress later that night.
On Telegram, he said he was in Washington “to thank the American people, the President and Congress for their much-needed support.” “And also to continue the cooperation to bring our victory closer,” added Zelensky.
Mykhailo Podolyak, political adviser to the Ukrainian president, told Reuters that the visit to the United States proves Washington’s unequivocal support for Kyiv. “This meeting finally puts an end to attempts by the Russian side to prove a supposed cooling off in our bilateral relations,” said Podolyak.
#meeting #Zelensky #Biden #confirms #military #aid #package #includes #Patriot #system