President Joe Biden welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Wednesday as the leaders try to show a unified front against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Their summit was Zelenskyy's first known trip outside his home country since the war began in February.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden greeted Zelenskyy, who wore casual army green attire, as he got out of his vehicle. He shook hands with Biden on the red carpet before they went inside for their Oval Office meeting, followed by a news conference. In the evening, Zelenskyy will address Congress.
“I am in Washington today to thank the American people, the President and the Congress for their much-needed support,” Zelenskyy posted on his official Instagram account after he landed. “And also to continue cooperation to bring our victory closer.” He said the visit would "strengthen resilience and defense capabilities” of Ukraine.
The highly sensitive trip was taking place after 10 months of a brutal war that has seen tens of thousands of casualties on both sides and devastation for Ukrainian civilians. Just before his arrival, the U.S. announced its largest single delivery of arms to Ukraine, including Patriot surface-to-air missiles, and Congress planned to vote on a spending package that includes about $45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy headed abroad after making a daring and dangerous trip Tuesday to what he called the hottest spot on the 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) front line of the war, the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s contested Donetsk province. He praised Ukrainian troops for their “courage, resilience and strength” as artillery boomed in the background.
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