2022 visit by Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States
President Zelenskyy and President Biden hold a press conference in the East Room of the White House, 21 December 2022.
DateDecember 21–22, 2022 (2022-12-21 – 2022-12-22)
LocationWashington, D.C., United States

On 21 December 2022, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, visited the United States. During his 10-hour[1] visit, Zelenskyy met with Joe Biden, the president of the United States, held a joint press conference, and addressed a joint session of the United States Congress. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a US$1.85 billion military aid package for Ukraine ahead of Zelenskyy's visit.[2] Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, D.C. is believed to be his first overseas trip since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.[3]

Background

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War.[4][5][6] At the beginning of the invasion, Zelenskyy declined offers of evacuation from the United States.[7] The United States assisted Ukraine and Zelenskyy by other means, with the U.S. giving the most assistance to Ukraine throughout the invasion of any foreign nation—around US$50 billion at the time of Zelenskyy's visit.[8]

This was Zelenskyy's first visit to the White House, although he had met with Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, in 2019, "on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly's opening sessions in New York."[9]

Informal discussions about the trip began on December 11, and after the invitation was extended and accepted, planning began on December 18. Zelenskyy traveled by train to Przemyśl, Poland, where he was joined by U.S. ambassador Bridget Brink, "transported in a U.S. Embassy vehicle to an airport in Rzeszów," and then traveled, via a U.S. Air Force jet typically used by Cabinet-level officials, to Joint Base Andrews.[1]

Visit to the United States

External videos
video icon Press conference with Zelenskyy and President Joe Biden, December 21, 2022, C-SPAN
video icon Press conference with Zelenskyy and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, December 21, 2022, C-SPAN
video icon Zelenskyy's address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, December 21, 2022, C-SPAN

Meeting with Joe Biden

Zelenskyy arrived in the country from Rzeszów, Poland aboard a United States Air Force C-40B.[10][11] During his visit to the United States, Zelenskyy met with the president, Joe Biden. Biden pledged a Patriot missile system for the use of Ukraine against aircraft, ballistic, and cruise missiles.[2][12][13] The Patriot system had been previously asked for by Ukraine.[14]

Zelenskyy presented Biden with a medal that had been awarded to a Ukrainian officer responsible for a U.S.-furnished HIMARS system "that the officer wanted Biden to have."[15]

Speech to Congress

Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Address by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the US Congress, 21 December 2022

After meeting with Biden, Zelenskyy gave a speech, in English, to a joint session of the United States Congress. In his speech, Zelenskyy called for increased aid to Ukraine. Following his speech, Zelenskyy gave a Ukrainian flag signed by Ukrainian soldiers fighting at the Battle of Bakhmut to Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. In return, Pelosi presented Zelenskyy with a U.S. flag, which had flown over the Capitol that day. Zelenskyy carried the flag with him as he departed the House chamber.[16][17]

Pelosi later compared the visit to Winston Churchill's address to Congress, at which her father Rep. Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. was present, on December 26, 1941.[15]

Reaction

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The Associated Press, citing a security analyst, wrote "Zelenskyy's mission of keeping America engaged is a difficult one, but he is up to the task."[15] David Sanger of the New York Times argued that Zelenskyy's true purpose was appealing "to the minority of Republicans who are reluctant to spend more in a conflict whose end is nowhere in sight..." To this end, Zelenskyy reminded Congress that Iran's assistance to Russia might ultimately impact close U.S. ally Israel, essentially urging Congressmembers hesitant to invest more in Ukraine to see it as part of a broader defense of Western interests.[18]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Kim, Seung Min (22 December 2022). "Why Zelenskyy's D.C. visit took months to coordinate". PBS NewsHour. Associated Press. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b "'Ukraine is alive and kicking': Zelenskyy works to sway scepticism as US pledges billions more for Ukraine defence". ABC News. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  3. ^ Wilkie, Christina (21 December 2022). "Zelenskyy meets with Biden on his first known wartime trip outside Ukraine". CNBC. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  4. ^ desk, The Kyiv Independent news (24 February 2022). "PUTIN DECLARES WAR ON UKRAINE". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Putin announces formal start of Russia's invasion in eastern Ukraine — Meduza". 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Russian President Vladimir Putin announces military assault against Ukraine in surprise speech". MSN. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Zelensky refuses U.S. offer to evacuate, saying 'I need ammunition, not a ride'". CTVNews. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  8. ^ "How Much Aid Has the U.S. Sent Ukraine? Here Are Six Charts". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  9. ^ Gienger, Viola (4 October 2019). ""Play Ball": Why the Panic Over a Trump-Zelenskyy White House Meeting?". Just Security. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  10. ^ Chatterjee, Phelan (22 December 2022). "Ukraine war: Zelensky's visit shows neither Ukraine nor US want peace, Russia says". BBC News. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  11. ^ Venckunas, Valius (21 December 2022). "How did Zelensky travel to US in first foreign visit? - AeroTime". Aerotime Hub. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Providing US Patriot missiles could transform Ukraine's defences. But it's a move with risks | Jack Watling". the Guardian. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Patriot systems would be legitimate target in Ukraine: Kremlin". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Ukraine calls for Patriot missiles to defend its grid and stop rise in refugees". the Guardian. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  15. ^ a b c MADHANI, AAMER; MASCARO, LISA (21 December 2022). "Analysis: Biden, Zelenskyy try to keep Congress from balking". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Defiant Zelenskyy tells Congress "this battle cannot be frozen and postponed"". www.cbsnews.com. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  17. ^ Kavi, Aishvarya (22 December 2022). "Full Transcript of Zelensky's Speech Before Congress". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  18. ^ Sanger, David E. (22 December 2022). "For Zelensky, a Celebration of Resilience and a Sales Pitch for Support". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 January 2023.

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