Zelensky to Visit US Congress on the 21st... Also to Hold Talks with Biden at the White House

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to visit the U.S. Congress on the 21st (local time) to appeal for additional support for Ukraine, which is exposed to Russian counterattacks, according to Bloomberg News and others.

According to reports, President Zelensky is scheduled to attend a full Senate session at 10 a.m. on the 21st (Eastern Time), presided over by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of the Democratic Party and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of the Republican Party, where he will meet with senators. At this meeting, President Zelensky is expected to appeal to the senators for financial support for Ukraine.

After his visit to Congress, President Zelensky is also scheduled to hold talks with President Joe Biden at the White House. NBC News reported, "President Zelensky, who is visiting the U.S. to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York starting on the 19th, will then move to Washington D.C. to visit Congress and the White House in succession."

This trip to Washington D.C. marks President Zelensky's first overseas visit since the Ukraine war began in December last year, following his visit to the U.S. about nine months ago.

At the NATO summit held in Vilnius, Lithuania, last July, U.S. President Joe Biden (left) is speaking on stage together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Earlier last month, President Biden requested Congress to approve an additional budget of $20.6 billion to support the Ukraine war. While Ukraine, backed by U.S. support, has not achieved dramatic results in the war against Russia, controversy is growing within the opposition Republican Party over continuing astronomical budget support.

Some hardline Republican members in the House are putting the brakes on Ukraine support policies, even at the risk of a federal government shutdown. To avoid a federal government shutdown, a temporary budget bill must be passed by the end of this month (September 30), before the start of the 2024 fiscal year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.