Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit President Biden at the White House and lawmakers on Capitol Hill next week, national security advisor Jake Sullivan announced Friday.
“This will be their third meeting here at the White House and it certainly comes at a critical time,” Mr. Sullivan said at the daily White House press briefing.
Mr. Zelenskyy will meet with his U.S. counterpart on Thursday. The White House did not say if the two leaders will hold a joint press conference.
The visit comes as Mr. Biden presses Congress to approve $24 billion in aid for Ukraine as it continues to fend off the Russian invasion.
Mr. Sullivan said the aid package comes at a crucial time in the war as Russia seeks help from other countries like North Korea and its counteroffensive continues to make progress.
He also confirmed that Mr. Zelenskyy will visit the U.S. Capitol.
“I think he’s looking forward to the opportunity not just to see President Biden here at the White House, but also to see congressional leaders from both parties to make the case that the United States has been a great friend and partner to Ukraine throughout this entire brutal war,” he said.
Mr. Zelenskyy last visited Washington in December 2022 and pleaded with Congress for more aid, calling it an “investment” in global security and democracy.
Ukrainian aid has become an increasingly acrimonious issue in Congress. Mr. Biden has asked lawmakers for a $13.1 billion military aid package along with $8.5 billion for humanitarian support and $2.3 billion for financing through the World Bank.
Some Republican lawmakers have pushed back as they seek to limit government spending. The funding request also comes as Congress seeks to pass a spending bill before a Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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