Biden will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Tuesday

CNN
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President Joe Biden will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Tuesday as talks on a Ukraine aid deal remain in Congress.

The visit, which was announced by the White House on Sunday, is Zelensky’s second visit to Washington since the start of the war in Ukraine. He last visited in September.

Zelensky’s visit comes at an important time in the council’s negotiations for emergency aid to Ukraine. It appears that Congress is no closer to an agreement linking immigration and border policy changes in the emergency aid package that will provide money for Ukraine and Israel before lawmakers leave town for the holidays.

The president of Ukraine was also invited to speak at a meeting of Senators on Tuesday morning by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a Senate aide said. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson will also meet with Zelensky, he said in a statement.

The White House meeting will “underline the unwavering commitment of the United States to support the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russian aggression,” the press secretary said. Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement.

“As Russia increases its missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, the leaders will discuss Ukraine’s urgent needs and the importance of the United States’ continued support during this difficult time,” he said.

The two will discuss “further mutual defense” in a series of meetings on Tuesday, the Ukrainian presidency said in a statement on Sunday.

Zelensky will focus on “ensuring unity between the US, Europe, and the whole world” on their support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia and “strengthening the international order based on laws and respect for the sovereignty of nations,” said the statement.

Zelensky and Biden will also discuss defense cooperation efforts for the coming year, including joint projects to produce weapons and air defense.

If Congress leaves town for the holidays without making a deal, the White House must do so. difficult decision about giving friends like Ukraine in the crisis of the preparedness of the American military. The top officials of the Biden administration have been sounding the alarm for weeks about the funding for Ukraine that is drying up and the possible consequences.

The administration’s $106 billion in aid includes about $60 billion in aid for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, while the rest goes toward Israel’s war with Hamas, security in Taiwan and the financing of projects on the border of the United States and Mexico.

But top Republicans, who are wary of adding to the $111 billion the US has already sent to Ukraine, have asked for any additional funding to be linked to major policy changes.

“History will judge harshly those who turn their backs on freedom,” Biden said earlier this month. “We cannot allow Putin to win.”

The president said he was willing to take “important measures on the border,” admitting that the country’s immigration system is “broken,” but added that Ukraine’s needs are so important that wait. He called the “Republicans stand down” as negotiators remain at a critical juncture on the issue of border security, saying those Republicans are “playing chicken with our national security.”

“Honestly, I think it’s surprising that we got to this point in the first place… The Russians are committing war crimes – it’s that simple. It’s amazing,” Biden said.

Ukraine said on Saturday that Russia had carried out almost 100 airstrikes against the country in the past 24 hours, as its first lady of Ukraine warned in “physical danger” without the help of the European military.

“We really need help,” the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, recently told the BBC of support for Ukraine. “Simply put, we cannot give up in this situation, because if we do, we will die.

“And if the world is weak, they will let us die.”

This article has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Michael Williams and Betsy Klein, Priscilla Alvarez and Lauren Fox contributed to this report.