Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden and lawmakers on Capitol Hill during his visit to Washington, DC, on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian leader’s last-minute trip came together late last week, a White House official said. It takes place at a critical moment when further aid for the war-torn country remains stalled on Capitol Hill.
Talk of the trip arose as the Ukrainian president was preparing to travel to Argentina for the inauguration of President Javier Milei over the weekend.
US and Ukrainian officials agreed to move forward with the visit to Washington, DC, since Zelensky would already be in the same hemisphere, giving the White House a chance to show commitment to Ukraine and speak to why that support should continue, the official said.
“He was eager to come to the United States, and we’re glad to have him at this critical moment,” the official said. “Who is a better advocate for his country than President Zelensky?”
Expected events: Zelensky’s Tuesday visit will start on Capitol Hill where he will meet with lawmakers in the morning. There, he was invited to speak at an all-senators meeting by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a Senate leadership aide said. House Speaker Mike Johnson will also meet with Zelensky, his office said in a statement.
After that, Zelensky will head to the White House for a meeting and news conference with Biden in the afternoon.
The pair will discuss “further defense cooperation” in a series of meetings on Tuesday, the office of the Ukrainian presidency said in a statement Sunday.
Zelensky will focus on “securing unity among the US, Europe, and the rest of the world” on their support of Ukraine’s defense against Russia and “strengthening the international order based on rules and respect for the sovereignty of nations,” the statement read.
Zelensky and Biden will also discuss defensive cooperation efforts for the coming year, including joint projects to produce weapons and air defense systems.
