Zelensky visits the United States on his first trip abroad since the start of the war in Ukraine

Published:
12/21/2022
08:33 (UTC+1)


Last update:
12/21/2022
17:17 (UTC+1)

He will meet with the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and will participate in a special session at the Capitol.

01:20

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskytravels this Wednesday to the capital of the United States in what will be the first visit to a foreign country by the Ukrainian president since the beginning of the Russian invasion of his country.

This was confirmed this Tuesday at the last minute by the US Government, which has detailed that, during his visit, Zelenski will meet the President of the United States, Joe Bidenand will participate in a special session on Capitol Hill to address members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

During the meeting at the White House, which will take place at 2:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. in the Basque Country), Zelenski and Biden will have “a prolonged meeting” in which key members of the National Security team and the Cabinet will participate. from Biden.

Later, Zelensky will make a speech at a joint session of Congress demonstrating “strong bipartisan support for Ukraine,” as detailed in the White House letter. After his intervention, the Ukrainian president will return to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president’s visit to the United States was discussed by both leaders during a telephone conversation on December 11, and Zelensky was formally invited to the White House on December 14.

The visit, which did not materialize until the last minute and has been kept secret for security reasons, will coincide with the Biden Administration’s intention to send Ukraine a new defense aid package that will include Patriot missile systems, CNN has reported.

Since February 24, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Zelensky has remained in kyiv and has not left the country.