Ukraine's Zelenskiy meets US lawmakers at Capitol to address skeptical Republicans (updated)

Ipsos SA

21/09/2023 14:03

(Updates paragraph 3 to reflect that Zelenskiy began Senate
session)
    By Patricia Zengerle and Makini Brice
       WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol on
Thursday as Republican skeptics question whether Congress should
approve a new round of aid for his country despite slow progress
fighting Russian invaders.
    After seeking to shore up international support at the
United Nations, Zelenskiy came to Washington on a crosstown
blitz that includes meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden and 
military leaders at the Pentagon and an address in the evening
at the National Archives museum. 
    While Biden and most congressional leaders still support aid
to Ukraine, and Biden's Democrats control the Senate, Zelenskiy
will face a tougher crowd than when he visited Washington nine
months ago.
    Dressed in military green to reflect his status as a wartime
leader, Zelenskiy met with leaders of the Republican-led House
of Representatives and House national security committees.   
    He then entered the Capitol's Old Senate Chamber alongside
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, and top Republican
Mitch McConnell, where he was to address the full U.S. Senate in
a private session.  
    As Ukraine's military counteroffensive grinds on and
Congress stages a bitter debate over spending ahead of a
possible government shutdown, a growing chorus of Republicans
have questioned the billions of dollars Washington has sent Kyiv
for military, economic and humanitarian needs.
    The U.S. has sent some $113 billion in security and
humanitarian aid to help Zelenskiy's government since Russia
invaded in February 2022.
    Russia carried out its biggest missile attack in weeks
across Ukraine on Thursday, pounding energy facilities in what
officials said appeared to be the first salvo in a new air
campaign against the Ukrainian power grid.
    Zelenskiy on Wednesday pressed his case for financial help
with some of America's best known billionaires who made their
fortunes in industries ranging from finance to tech and sports.
    Biden administration officials held a classified briefing
for Congress on Wednesday evening, to push for an additional $24
billion, saying if Russian President Vladimir Putin was allowed
to take control of Ukraine and pushed through to the border of
NATO, the cost to the United States would be much higher. 
    But some Republicans were not convinced. 
    "If there's some path in victory in Ukraine, I didn't hear
it today. And I also heard that there's going to be no end to
the funding requests," Republican Senator Josh Hawley, a vocal
critic of Ukraine aid, told reporters.  
    Biden will announce a new $325 million military aid package
for Ukraine, which is expected to include the second tranche of
cluster munitions fired by a 155 millimeter Howitzer cannon.
    "If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of
any nation secure?" Biden asked world leaders at the United
Nations on Tuesday. 
    Congress approved Ukraine assistance easily when both the
Senate and House were controlled by Democrats. Zelenskiy, who
has become a powerful advocate for his country, was greeted as a
hero when he addressed a joint meeting of Congress in December.
    Support in the Senate, both from Biden's fellow Democrats
and Republicans, has remained strong.
    "Our nation has a fundamental interest in Ukrainian victory
and European security," Senate Republican Leader McConnell said
on Wednesday in a speech criticizing Biden for acting too slowly
to help Ukraine.
    Solid majorities of Americans support providing weaponry to
Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, Reuters/Ipsos polling
shows.
    But some of the Republicans who took narrow control of the
House in January are questioning the wisdom of continuing to
send funds to Kyiv. About a third of the House Republican caucus
voted in July for a failed proposal to cut funding for Ukraine. 
    Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy did not arrange a meeting
on Thursday where Zelenskiy could make his case for continued
assistance to the entire House, just a small meeting with
himself and a few other leaders. McCarthy, who as speaker
controls what legislation comes up for House votes, said
Zelenskiy needed to convince him to back continued aid.
    "Is Zelenskiy elected to Congress? Is he our president? I
don't have to commit anything," McCarthy told reporters on
Tuesday. "I have questions for him. Where's the accountability
on the money we've already spent? What is the plan for victory?
I think that's what the American public wants to know."

    <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Blood and billions: the cost of Russia's war in Ukraine     https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/blood-billions-cost-russias-war-ukraine-2023-08-23/
Russia hits Ukrainian energy facilities in biggest attack in
weeks     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N3AX07N
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 (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Makini Brice; additional
reporting by Andrea Shalal; editing by Don Durfee, Heather
Timmons and Alistair Bell)
 ((patricia.zengerle@thomsonreuters.com,
www.twitter.com/ReutersZengerle; 001-202-898-8390;))