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December 12, 2023 - Zelensky meets with Biden and lawmakers in push for more Ukraine aid

By Adrienne Vogt , Aditi Sangal , Elise Hammond and Maureen Chowdhury , CNN

Here are key takeaways from Zelensky’s critical trip to Washington

From CNN's Michael Williams

Ukrainian President  Volodymyr Zelensky  was in  Washington on Tuesday  to make an in-person plea for the military and economic aid he said is necessary to continue Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion.

Zelensky, visiting Washington for the third time since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, met with  members of Congress Tuesday morning  and President Joe Biden.

The visit also comes as a deal for a supplemental funding package that includes crucial aid for the war-torn country remains logjammed by congressional Republicans who want the Biden administration to make concessions on border security and immigration policy in exchange for the aid package.

A deal remains unlikely with a holiday recess looming.

Here are key takeaways from Zelensky’s day in the nation’s capital:

Biden says US will support Ukraine "as long as we can": During a joint news conference with the Ukrainian leader Tuesday, Biden vowed the US will support Ukraine for “as long as we can.”

The comment represented a subtle but noteworthy shift in public messaging from the president, who previously said the US will support the country in its defense against the Russian invasion for “as long as it takes.”

Biden’s comments could represent a more pragmatic view from the president on the future of Ukraine aid, with time — and potentially political will — running out before Congress breaks for the holidays to pass more funding, and with future security assistance uncertain under a potential new presidential administration.

Months ago, Biden vowed the country’s “commitment to Ukraine will not weaken.”

Zelensky tells senators he expects US to come through for Ukraine: Earlier in the day, Zelensky told senators that he’s still counting on US support to come through for his nation, according to Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

The questions from senators were mostly about accountability for US aid and Zelensky tried to assure senators that no money would be used corruptly in Ukraine, according to GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota.

In a social media post following the meeting, Zelensky described the conversation as “friendly and candid” and thanked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell “for their personal leadership in rallying bipartisan support for Ukraine among U.S. legislators.”

Some Republicans who attended that meeting said they remained unmoved after hearing Zelensky’s request for assistance, insisting Biden still needed to bargain.

Johnson says White House response "insufficient": Following a roughly 30-minute meeting with Zelensky – their first one-on-one encounter – House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Biden administration’s response to congressional Republicans’ demands has been “insufficient,” and reiterated his stance that a deal remains unlikely without a “transformative change” at the border.

Biden releases $200 million in Ukraine funding: Speaking to reporters during a meeting with Zelensky in the Oval Office, Biden announced he would be releasing $200 million in funding already approved by Congress to help Ukraine with its defensive needs.

While that’s a small fraction of the $60 billion sought by Biden for Ukraine in his supplemental funding request, the funds will be released shortly, the president said.

Read more about Zelensky's trip to Washington

Kamala Harris discussed efforts to aid Ukraine's economic recovery with Zelensky

From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg

Vice President Kamala Harris met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday to discuss the White House’s support of “Ukraine’s security and people,” according to a White House readout.

In their meeting, the leaders discussed Ukraine’s “efforts to advance economic recovery.” 

They also talked about the importance of “continued international support” of Ukraine and how to sustain the “morale of the Ukrainian people," the readout said.

“The leaders agreed on the importance of continued international support to sustain the morale of the Ukrainian people, who must know that they are not alone as they defend their country against Russian aggression,” the readout said.

Biden and Zelensky push back on assertions that Ukraine's counteroffensive has stalled

Both United States President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back against the assertion that Ukraine's counteroffensive is stalling, providing examples of successes on the battlefield.

Biden first reiterated a figure mentioned earlier in the joint news conference by Zelensky: that Ukraine has taken back 50% of the territories seized by Russia. He also pointed to Ukraine’s move to push back the Russian navy so it could export grain in the Black Sea.

Zelensky’s talks in Washington come at a critical moment, as the White House warns American aid to Ukraine could imminently dry up and talks over new assistance  are stalled in Congress.

Zelensky, speaking Ukrainian, said the successes on the battlefield were “not an easy success,” but his country has made “serious steps forward.”

“Yes, we had a lot of problems, but nonetheless, we were able to do this. Moreover, Russia was not able to stay (in) any part of our territory, any village, any town,” Zelensky said, according to a translator.

He clarified that this doesn’t necessarily apply to big cities, but assured that they had a clear plan to move forward. He declined to give details of those plans publicly.

Biden also said that it was because of bipartisan support from more than 50 countries that Ukraine was able to accomplish these things.

“We need to ensure Putin continues to fail in Ukraine and Ukraine to succeed and the best way for that… to do that is to pass the supplement,” Biden said, referring to additional funding that is stalled in Congress.

Biden says US will support Ukraine "as long as we can," in apparent shift from previous language

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

US President Joe Biden has long vowed American support for Ukraine will persist “as long as it takes.”

But on Tuesday, Biden appeared to revise that commitment, saying in a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the US would “continue to supply Ukraine with critical weapons and equipment as long as we can.”

It was a shift that reflected the major headwinds in approving new American assistance to Ukraine. After Zelensky’s meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, it appeared no clearer that new aid would be forthcoming before the end of the year.

Opening his news conference, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin was “ banking on the United States failing to deliver ” new aid, and said American divisions on providing new aid was playing into Russia’s hands. 

“We must, we must, we must prove him wrong,” Biden said.

He noted the host of a Russian state television program had praised Republicans for blocking the passage of new Ukraine aid last week.

“If you’re being celebrated by Russian propagandists, it might be time to rethink what you're doing,” Biden said. 

Biden later defined US expectations for Ukraine as the war approaches the end of its second year. 

“We want to see Ukraine win the war,” Biden said. “Winning means Ukraine is a sovereign, independent nation. And it can afford to defend itself today and deter further aggression. That's our objective.”

CNN's Betsy Klein contributed reporting to this post.

Zelensky: Biden and I discussed how to increase Ukraine's strength going into 2024

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined his country's goals going into 2024 during remarks from the White House Tuesday.

"Today, President Biden and I discussed how to increase our strengths" for next year, he said, and noted three elements.

First , Zelensky noted air defense and efforts to destroy Russian logistics on Ukraine's land. "We aim to win the air battle, crushing Russian air dominance," he said, adding that "who controls the skies controls the war's duration."

Second , Zelensky said that he met with an American defense company. He said he received advice on how to make Ukraine's defense industry work faster and more effectively. "Together, Ukraine and America can transform democracy's arsenal," he said.

Third , Zelensky said he informed Biden that Ukraine has "fulfilled all the recommendations from the European Commission" in preparation to negotiate his country's ascension to the European Union.

Zelensky gives message of strength and thanks US for partnership in war against Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a thankful message of unity at a joint news conference Tuesday with United States President Joe Biden.

The Ukrainian president said he was glad to have the invitation to come to Washington, DC, to convey to Biden what his country has achieved in its fight against Russia.

"We've already made significant progress. We've shown that our partnership is stronger than any Russian hostility," Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine has freed 50% of the territories Russia occupied.

He pointed out that Ukrainian soldiers have been "defending freedom" for nearly two years and “thanks to Ukraine’s success in defense, other European nations are safe from the Russian aggression unlike in the past."

"We stand firm, no matter what Putin tries. He hasn't won any victory," the Ukrainian president added.

Biden: Putin is banking on the US failing to deliver aid to Ukraine

President Joe Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is counting on the US to fail to provide support to Ukraine during remarks at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House Tuesday.

"We'll continue to supply Ukraine with critical weapons and equipment as long as we can; including $200 million I just approved today" in weapons and military aid, Biden said, but added that supplemental funding is needed to continue US support.

"Without supplemental funding, we're rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond in the urgent operational demands that it has. Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must, we must, we must, prove him wrong," Biden said, urging the US Congress to pass funding to assist Ukraine.

NOW: Biden and Zelensky hold joint news conference on Ukraine aid

From CNN staff

United States President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are holding a joint news conference.

The Ukrainian president is in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. He held meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and with Biden at the White House.

Zelensky is advocating for more US funding for Ukraine as it fights its war against Russia, though Congress appears to be no closer to a deal that would provide additional aid.

This is Zelensky’s third trip to Washington since the war began.

Zelensky says his goal is to "take away Russian superiority" and disrupt its operations in 2024

From CNN's Mariya Knight

During a meeting US President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the goal is to “take away Russian superiority and disrupt its offensive operations” in 2024.

Zelensky said that another aim of his is “to boost the development of the arsenals of democracy” of Ukraine with the help of American weapons. He said he would like to discuss speeding up the weapon co-production with his American counterpart. 

“Thanks to all the workers, engineers, managers who build the strength of American weapons helping Ukraine boost the development of arsenals of democracy. President Biden agreed, and we spoke about it in September to join weapon co-production, it is very important for us,” Zelensky said during the meeting Tuesday in the Oval Office.

The Ukrainian president also noted that his forces are “advancing” on the battlefield and highlighted Ukraine’s success in the Black Sea.

"We’ve successfully defeated Russia in the Black Sea and Russia is hiding its... the remains of its fleet in remote bays. Meanwhile, Ukraine has set up an export corridor in the Black Sea that is really boosting our economy and food security,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s economic growth is “almost at 5%” at the moment. 

Zelensky said his country is "gradually becoming less dependent on aid, and we are moving in the right direction." He said he wanted to discuss with Biden how to continue to strengthen Ukrainian capabilities "especially enhancing our air defense and ability to destroy Russia’s logistics."

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Zelenskyy delivers upbeat message to US lawmakers on war progress as some Republican support softens

President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Ky., left, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., right, speaks briefly to the media after meeting with members of Congress, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed to the Capitol in Washington, by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., left, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. It is Zelenskyy’s second visit to Washington since Russia invaded and comes as President Joe Biden’s request to Congress for an additional $24 billion for Ukraine is hanging in the balance. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House, Dec. 21, 2022, in Washington. Zelenskyy arrives in Washington for a whirlwind return visit, this time to face the Republicans now questioning the flow of American dollars that has kept his troops in the fight against Russian forces. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a welcome ceremony at the Pentagon, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

From left, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., left, listens as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, speaks while walking through Capitol Hill on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is delivering an upbeat message to U.S. lawmakers in a whirlwind visit to Washington. But Zelenskyy was facing Republicans who are now questioning the flow of American dollars that for 19 months has helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy worked to shore up U.S. support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington on Thursday, delivering an upbeat message on the war’s progress while facing new questions about the flow of American dollars that for 19 months have helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces.

The Ukrainian leader received a far quieter reception than the hero’s welcome he was given last year from Congress, but also won generally favorable comments on the next round of U.S. aid he says he needs to stave off defeat.

Zelenskyy, in long-sleeve olive drab, came to the Capitol with a firm message in private talks with Republican and Democratic leaders. The Ukrainians have a solid war plan, and “they are winning,” lawmakers quoted him as assuring them, at a time that the world is watching Western support for Kyiv.

President Joe Biden gave Zelenskyy a red-carpet arrival on the White House South lawn and more ceremony than world leaders normally receive, and made clear his concern with Congress.

Intensifying opposition to continued Ukraine funding from a faction of congressional Republicans largely aligned with the party’s presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is threatening what had been easier congressional approval for four previous rounds of funding for Ukraine, delivering $113 billion. Any momentum toward opposing U.S. aid for Ukraine also potentially risks public backing for the war effort.

Asked about the funding issue after meeting with Zelenskyy, Biden answered, “I’m counting on the good judgment of the United States Congress. There’s no alternative.”

It was Zelenskyy’s second visit to Washington since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and came as Biden’s request to Congress for an additional $24 billion for Ukraine’s military and humanitarian needs is hanging in the balance. Resistance to the latest request could lead to delays or reductions.

The administration did announce another $325 million Thursday in what’s known as presidential drawdown assistance for Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the package would include additional air defense, artillery ammunition, cluster munitions and other arms.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who faces opposition to the Ukrainian funding package from the Republicans aligned with Trump, notably chose not to join House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat, in greeting Zelenskyy when he arrived. And Republican McCarthy also confirmed that he declined Zelenskyy’s request for a joint session of Congress, as happened during the Ukrainian president’s dramatic visit to Washington last winter, saying there wasn’t time for that on short notice.

But McCarthy praised the answers that Ukrainians delivered to lawmakers Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Washington, D.C. on Thursday, but he faces a different climate since visiting in 2022, where Republicans control the House and some are questioning America’s support for Ukraine. (Sept. 20)

“It was direct, I thought it was honest, they were answering the questions,” McCarthy said. “I heard a lot of positive things.”

Lawmakers who attended the private meeting described questioning Zelenskyy on the way forward for Ukraine’s counteroffensive, as the fight to roll back invading Russian forces moves closer to the two-year mark without major breakthroughs in Russia’s heavily mined lines.

Zelenskyy “conceded that it’s tough, very tough to overcome entrenched defenses,” Independent Sen. Angus King said. “They believe they will make slow but steady progress, but it’s not going to be quick.”

Back home, Russia launched its heaviest strikes in a month in the hours before Zelenskyy’s arrival at Congress, killing three, igniting fires and damaging energy infrastructure as Russian missiles and artillery pounded cities across Ukraine.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan underscored Thursday that Biden would seek to drive home with Zelenskyy’s visit that the U.S. and the world “send the unmistakable message that in the 21st century, a dictator cannot be allowed to conquer or carve up his neighbor’s territory.”

“If we allow that here, it will happen elsewhere in ways that will undermine the fundamental security, not to mention the values that the American people hold so dear,” Sullivan said.

Biden has called on world leaders to stand strong with Ukraine, even as he faces domestic political divisions at home. A hard-right flank of Republicans, led by Trump, Biden’s chief rival in the 2024 race for the White House, is increasingly opposed to sending more money overseas.

Zelenskyy was scheduled to address the Canadian Parliament and meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Friday.

He faces challenges in Europe, as cracks emerge in what had been a largely united Western alliance behind Ukraine.

Late Wednesday, Poland’s prime minister said his country is no longer sending arms to Ukraine, a comment that appeared aimed at pressuring Kyiv and put Poland’s status as a major source of military equipment in doubt as a trade dispute between the neighboring states escalates.

Zelenskyy’s visit comes with U.S. and world government leaders watching as Ukrainian forces struggle to take back territory that Russia gained over the past year. Their progress in the next month or so before the rains come and the ground turns to mud could be critical to rousing additional global support over the winter. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hopes to outlast allied backing for Kyiv, will be ready to capitalize if he sees Ukraine is running low on air defense or other weapons.

The political environment has shifted markedly since Zelenskyy addressed Congress last December on his first trip out of Ukraine since the war began. He was met with rapturous applause for his country’s bravery and surprisingly strong showing in the war.

His meeting with senators Thursday took place behind closed doors in the Old Senate Chamber, a historic and intimate place of importance at the U.S. Capitol, signifying the respect the Senate is showing the foreign leader.

Zelenskyy received a warm welcome from both parties on his stop in the Senate. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer flanked him as he walked in. A few lawmakers of both parties wore clothes with blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Schumer told reporters afterward one sentence summed up the meeting: “Mr. Zelenskyy said if we don’t get the aid, we will lose the war.”

Senate Republican leader McConnell, who is trying to keep his party in line behind support for Ukraine, said afterward he was proud to welcome Zelenskyy to the Capitol.

“Americans’ support for Ukraine is not a charity,” he said. “It’s an investment in our own self-interest.”

Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Kevin Freking, Tara Copp, Lolita M. Baldor, Colleen Long, Aamer Madhani and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

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In U.S., Zelensky Will Make Case for More Aid, and Offer Thanks

The Ukrainian leader’s second trip to America comes at a more delicate diplomatic moment, as he tries to navigate political currents while expressing gratitude for Western support.

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By Andrew E. Kramer

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

A hero’s welcome awaited President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on his first trip to the United States after Russia’s full-scale invasion, which came on the heels of two back-to-back military advances that showcased Ukrainian momentum to the West. Mr. Zelensky spoke to a joint session of Congress last December, highlighting the successes and appealing for continued aid.

Mr. Zelensky’s second visit, beginning on Tuesday, is a more delicate political mission, coming in the face of skepticism over assistance to Ukraine from some Republican lawmakers and amid a slow-moving and so far inconclusive counteroffensive on which many hopes in the war had been pinned.

Mr. Zelensky will attend the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York, where he is expected to continue an effort to win support among developing nations that have wavered or leaned toward Russia. Then he will travel to Washington to meet with congressional leaders and visit the White House.

The Ukrainian president is approaching his appearances with a more balanced message. He remains a tireless advocate for military assistance for the Ukrainian Army, but has infused his pleas with deep expressions of gratitude for what the West has already provided.

It’s a shift in tone and approach for Mr. Zelensky after criticism that he was scolding his allies and appearing ungrateful as he pressed them for weapons.

At a NATO summit in July, Ben Wallace, then Britain’s defense minister, said, “Like it or not, people want to see a bit more gratitude.” He said he was offering advice for Ukraine to win over those who have been skeptical of aid.

At the same summit, in Vilnius, Lithuania, Jake Sullivan, the Biden administration’s national security adviser, said that “the American people do deserve a degree of gratitude” for ammunition, air-defense systems, armored vehicles and mine-clearing equipment.

Mr. Zelensky appeared to get the message.

“Thank you so much,” he said in a brief comment during Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s visit to Kyiv this month , in which Mr. Zelensky said thank you eight times.

“We are really thankful. We are very thankful,” he said.

Last December, Mr. Zelensky arrived in Washington just weeks after Ukraine’s military had defeated Russian forces in the only provincial capital they had seized in the full-scale invasion, Kherson, in the country’s south. Earlier in the fall, Ukraine had sprung a successful surprise attack on Russian forces in the Kharkiv region in the northeast, recapturing towns and villages across a wide swath of territory.

The gains meant that Ukraine had reclaimed about half the territory Russia seized in the invasion that began in February 2022.

Ukrainian forces at the time were also fiercely holding off the Russians in Bakhmut. (The Russians eventually captured the city in May.) In his appearance before Congress, which drew a standing ovation, Mr. Zelensky presented the Democratic congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris with a Ukrainian flag signed by soldiers fighting in Bakhmut .

At the time, preparations were already underway for the military operation that began in southern Ukraine this June, after a monthslong wait for American and European weaponry, including tanks and armored vehicles. Mr. Zelensky has complained that the delay gave Russia time to dig in and lay vast minefields, thwarting any fast advance.

Other factors added to the delay, including late spring rains, but the Ukrainian government’s evolving argument was that the West’s hesitation over sending more powerful and sophisticated weapons was costly in terms of the counteroffensive’s effectiveness.

Ukraine’s army is now locked in a plodding but vicious and bloody fight along two main lines of attack through farm fields and tiny villages.

Military analysts have not written off the operation, but even Mr. Zelensky has said it is moving slower than hoped. This month, Ukraine pierced a main line of Russian defenses near the village of Robotyne and is fighting to widen the breach sufficiently to send through armored vehicles.

At home, Mr. Zelensky remains politically popular though he has hit some speed bumps, including corruption in military recruitment offices and procurement that led to the firing of his defense minister. On Monday, Ukraine dismissed all six of its deputy defense ministers , a significant shake-up in its wartime operations.

After nearly 19 months of war, the vast majority of Ukrainians remain enraged at Russia for the invasion and deeply opposed to any settlement that would leave President Vladimir V. Putin with any gains from the assault.

In addition to lobbying the United States and Europe for military aid, Ukraine has been seeking diplomatic backing from developing countries in Africa and South America, arguing that disruptions in grain shipments are raising food prices. He also wants to shore up support from military allies, of which the United States is most pivotal.

America provides about a third of direct weapons donations to Ukraine’s army. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Congress has approved approximately $43 billion in security assistance.

Now, the White House has requested from Congress an additional $24 billion in Ukraine aid that seems likely to become entangled in partisan spending fights this fall. Mr. Zelensky will have an opportunity to try to unite Democrats and Republicans on the need for continued military assistance.

Looming over Mr. Zelensky’s visit is the American presidential election, just over a year away. The prospect of a second Trump administration, and a less enthusiastic commitment to aiding Ukraine, is a concern to leaders in Kyiv.

“It’s a different kind of conversation” for the Ukrainian leader in Washington as the United States moves into an election year, Igor Novikov, a former U.S. policy adviser to Mr. Zelensky, said in an interview. The president will try “to keep the substance of the war on the agenda and not alow it to become domestic political pingpong, because it’s a matter of life and death.”

With Ukraine bubbling up as a domestic political issue in the United States and European nations, Kyiv will need to engage politicians opposed to Ukraine spending, Mr. Novikov said.

Ukrainian politicians of all viewpoints have said the country’s national interest lies in maintaining bipartisan support for U.S. aid. Mr. Zelensky met in Kyiv over the summer with former Vice President Mike Pence and has regularly hosted Republican members of Congress.

In Washington, Mr. Zelensky also intends to argue that America’s interests are served in defending Europe’s borders in Ukraine, according to an official in the president’s office. Otherwise, the war could spread, destabilizing the European Union, which is the United States’ largest trading partner.

In the run-up to the invasion, Russia stated claims to security influence in Eastern Europe more broadly, demanding guarantees that NATO would not expand eastward or keep forces or weapons in former Soviet states that have since joined the alliance.

“If Ukraine were to fail, Putin would be emboldened with profound security and economic effects for the United States and average Americans,” said the official, who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about Mr. Zelensky’s visit. “We will reiterate that Americans should never have to fight Russians in Europe, and the best way to secure that is Ukrainian victory.”

Mr. Zelensky also intends to lay out in private conversations Ukraine’s plans in the war, the official said, to assuage worries that the fighting could bog down in the back-and-forth battles of recent months along the front. Ukraine has scored some success in long-range strikes on Russian air and naval bases and this month damaged a landing ship and submarine in the port of Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea.

Still, a key goal, the official said, is to deliver “a huge message of gratitude to the president, Congress and the American people.”

An earlier version of this article described imprecisely Russia’s comments about NATO in the run-up to the invasion. It demanded that NATO agree not to expand eastward and guarantee not to station weapons in several eastern member countries, not that those members leave the alliance.

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Andrew E. Kramer is the Times bureau chief in Kyiv. He was part of a team that won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting for a series on Russia’s covert projection of power. More about Andrew E. Kramer

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

President Biden and Ukraine’s allies have invoked a sense of urgency over weapon deliveries. But there are logistical hurdles , and Ukraine has little time to lose.

The United States has accused Russia of using chemical weapons , including poison gas, “as a method of warfare” against Ukrainian forces, in violation of a global ban on the use of such weapons.

Russian troops have captured or entered around a half-dozen villages on Ukraine’s eastern front, highlighting the deteriorating situation in the region  for Ukrainian forces as they wait for long-needed U.S. military aid.

Signs of Trauma: As Ukrainian prisoners of war return with physical and psychological wounds stemming from torture by their Russian captors, they are being sent back to active duty — often without adequate treatment .

Patriotism or Survival: As the war drags on, communities in western Ukraine that were steadfast  in their commitment to the war effort have been shaken by the unending violence on the front line.

Resuming U.S. Military Aid: Weapons from the support package, considered “a lifeline” for Ukraine’s military , could be arriving on the battlefield within days . But experts say it could take weeks before there is a direct impact on the war . What would $60 billion buy ?

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visits the White House

By Bo Erickson , Kathryn Watson

Updated on: September 1, 2021 / 9:45 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is finally getting his White House meeting, two years after his name became central to an investigation that led to former President Trump's first impeachment . 

President Biden, who took no questions from reporters at the top of his meeting with Zelenskyy on Wednesday, emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression. Mr. Biden said the two leaders will discuss how the U.S. can support Ukraine as it continues developing its democracy and integrating with Europe, as well as the fight against COVID-19 .

"As we celebrate 30 years of Ukrainian independence, the partnership between our nations grows stronger and it's going to even become stronger than it has been," Mr. Biden said.

• Ahead of Biden-Putin summit, Ukraine leader tells Americans war with Russia could "be tomorrow in their houses"

Zelenskyy, speaking through a translator, offered his condolences for the deaths of 13 American service members in Afghanistan last week. He said the two leaders will focus on security matters. A key issue for Ukraine is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which the U.S. and Germany are letting Russia complete and which will allow Russia to bypass Ukraine en route to Western Europe. Zelenskyy said Wednesday that is a matter of concern, and he will discuss the issue with Mr. Biden. The Ukrainian president also brought up the "very sensitive issue" of a list of more than 450 Ukrainian prisoners being held by the Russian federation.

"We have to focus very much now on the security issues which are the most important — security in Ukrainian Donbas and in the Ukrainian Crimea occupied by the Russian Federation, security in the Black Sea, and security in the Azov Sea region," Zelenskyy said, through a translator.

Two years ago,  Mr. Trump pressed Zelenskyy  to investigate the son of then-candidate Joe Biden, prompting the  first of two Trump impeachments . In July 2019, Mr. Trump asked Zelenskyy to "look into" Mr. Biden and his son Hunter, according to a rough White House transcript of the call. Mr. Trump was impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate. 

Zelenskyy's visit on Wednesday marks the second time a European leader has come to the Oval Office since Mr. Biden took office in January. The Congressional Ukraine Caucus met with Zelenskyy on Tuesday afternoon, as did Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Austin congratulated Zelenskyy on Ukraine's 30 years of independence, also offering his support for Ukraine's sovereignty "in the face of Russian aggression."

The U.S. and Ukraine are expected to announce they are restarting a commission to codify their strategic partnership, a senior administration official told reporters earlier this week. The commission, which has not met in three years, originally began in 2008.

The senior administration official said the U.S. remains "supportive" of Ukrainian democracy reforms, a stipulated requirement ahead of any future possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.

The administration notified Congress last week of an additional $60 million security assistance package to Ukraine, which includes javelin missiles and other lethal and non-lethal defense capabilities, the official also said.

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• Volodymyr Zelenskyy

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Zelensky demands US speeds up weapon shipments to halt Russia

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the US to speed up weapons deliveries, warning that advancing Russian forces are trying to take advantage of Ukraine’s shortfall.

Holding a joint press conference with Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg , Mr Zelensky said that the situation on the battlefield directly depended on the speed of ammunition supplies to Ukraine.

“Timely support for our army. Today I don’t see anything positive on this point yet. There are supplies, they have slightly begun, this process needs to be sped up,” he said.

The United States passed a $61 billion aid package last week, ending months of congressional deadlock and raising hopes in Kyiv that its critically low stocks of artillery shells would soon be replenished.

Ukraine’s top commander said on Sunday his troops had retreated from three villages in the east, and earlier today Russian forces captured the village of Semenivka.

“The Russian army is now trying to take advantage of a situation when we are waiting for supplies from our partners... and that is exactly why the speed of deliveries means stabilising the front,” Mr Zelensky said.

04:01 PM BST

That’s all for today.

Thank you for following our coverage. The key developments were:

Russian forces have captured the village of Semenivka in the Donetsk region, Russia’s defence ministry said, a day after Ukrainian troops retreated west.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said  it is “not too late” for Ukraine to win the war.

Two trains have been destroyed in Russia over the past few days, reducing the Kremlin’s logistics capacity, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has given a fresh impetus to the European Union’s drive to admit more countries, the bloc’s chairman said, adding he hoped the 27-nation club and prospective new members would be ready by 2030.

Polish farmers unblocked all border crossing points with Ukraine, after protesting what they said was unfair competition from goods from Ukraine.

German prosecutors have launched an investigation into a Russian citizen arrested on suspicion of stabbing two Ukrainian soldiers to death in southern Germany over the weekend.

03:48 PM BST

Small numbers of us weapons arriving in ukraine.

Fresh supplies of weapons from the US have begun to arrive in Ukraine but the process needs to speed up, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

03:17 PM BST

German prosecutors launch probe into killing of ukrainian soldiers.

The soldiers – who had been convalescing in southern Germany – were found with serious stab wounds outside a shopping centre Saturday evening, according to police. One of them, aged 36, died at the scene, while the other, 23, succumbed to his wounds in hospital.

A 57-year-old Russian citizen was arrested in his home shortly after the act on suspicion of murder, police said.

The prosecutor general’s office in Munich said it had since taken over the case and was not able to rule out a political motivation on the part of the alleged perpetrator.

02:58 PM BST

Watch: russia to show off western vehicles captured in ukraine during victory day celebrations, 02:38 pm bst, nato chief says ‘not too late’ for ukraine to win war.

“Ukraine has been outgunned for months, forced to ration its ammunition... But it’s not too late for Ukraine to prevail,” the Nato secretary general said at a press conference with Mr Zelensky.

02:26 PM BST

Russia says taking control of ariston unit is response to western hostilities.

The transfer of the Russian subsidiary of Italian water heating firm Ariston to management by a Gazprom entity was a response to the “hostile actions” of Western countries, the Russian embassy in Italy said in a Facebook post.

The statement was released after the ambassador was summoned to the Italian foreign ministry to explain the relocation of the asset under the temporary management of JSC Gazprom Household Systems.

In the decree, Russian president Vladimir Putin also placed the German appliance maker BSH Hausgeraete under the same “temporary external management”.

These measures “were taken in response to hostile actions, contrary to international law, by the United States and other foreign states that have joined them, aimed at illegally depriving Russia, its legal entities and various individuals of the right to property” in those countries, the post says.

The embassy added that it considered the “increasingly aggressive rhetoric and tone” of Western countries as a “deliberate intention to threaten the security of the Russian Federation”.

The Italian foreign ministry called on Russia to reverse its decision “which has no basis in law,” and said foreign minister Antonio Tajani may discuss “an appropriate response” with the G7 and Italy’s EU partners.

02:20 PM BST

Russian troops seize eastern village after ukrainian forces retreat.

Russian forces have captured the village of Semenivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Russia’s defence ministry said, a day after Ukrainian troops retreated west.

Russian troops have advanced through at least half a dozen villages on the eastern front since capturing the bastion town of Avdiivka in February as exhausted Ukrainian forces rationed dwindling artillery supplies.

On Sunday, the Russian ministry also announced the capture of Novobakhmutivka, another village close to Ocheretyne, which has become a focal point of fighting in recent days.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, has stressed that Russian troops are attacking the entire front line. The situation remains “intense” and is changing “dynamically,” he said.

01:52 PM BST

Russia’s war in ukraine boosts eu case for further expansion, chairman says.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has given a fresh impetus to the European Union’s drive to admit more countries, the bloc’s chairman has said, adding he hoped the 27-nation club and prospective new members would be ready by 2030.

European Council president Charles Michel spoke ahead of the 20th anniversary on Wednesday of the EU’s “Big Bang” enlargement that added 10 mostly ex-communist nations such as Poland and Hungary but also the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Cyprus to a bloc that had then comprised just 15 members.

“It was a call of history to unite European countries,” Mr Michel told reporters of the 2004 enlargement.

“Twenty years later we face a similar challenge because there is this geo-political chaos, including because of this war by Russia against Ukraine. And facing this chaos is the geo-political strategy to reunify once again.”

01:08 PM BST

Arms flows to ukraine will increase, says nato chief.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has told Ukrainians that his alliance’s members had failed to live up to their promises of military aid in recent months, but said the flow of arms and ammunition would now increase.

In an unannounced visit to Ukraine, the secretary general of the transatlantic military alliance held talks with president Volodymyr Zelensky and was due to address Ukraine’s parliament, the Rada.

His visit – the third since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – comes at a difficult time on the battlefield for Ukraine. After a failed Ukrainian counter-offensive last year, Russian forces have gained the initiative – at least in part due to a dearth of arms and ammunition from Kyiv’s Western partners.

“I will also be very honest with president Zelensky and also with the Rada that Nato allies have not delivered what we have promised over the last months,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

“The United States spent six months to agree a package and European allies have not delivered the ammunition we promised. But now I’m confident that things will change,” he said.

01:03 PM BST

More than 50 children killed in ukraine in march, double february’s figure, un says.

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, 57 children were reported killed in March 2024 – double the previous month. The increase was attributed directly to Russian use of aerial munitions.

The number of civilians killed or wounded in March was 604, a 20 per cent increase over the previous month.

In total there have been 31,366 civilian casualties in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion on February 24 2022: 10,810 killed and 20,556 wounded.

12:07 PM BST

Czech police shelve blast case involving russian spies.

Czech police have shelved the case of two ammunition depot blasts in 2014 involving the Russian secret service, citing Moscow’s unwillingness to cooperate.

The explosions near the eastern Czech village of Vrbetice killed two workers and caused extensive damage.

“The police considers it a proven fact that the explosions of both depots in Vrbetice were carried out by officers of the Russian military intelligence service... GRU,” Czech police said on its website. “Their motivation was to prevent arms and ammunition supplies to areas where the Russian army was conducting its operations.”

The blasts occurred only months after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in early 2014.

Czech intelligence and media said the agents were the same ones suspected of poisoning former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018.

Czech police said the Vrbetice blasts were “a part of long-term diversionary operations by the Russian military intelligence on the territory of the EU and Ukraine”.

“It is not possible to gain the necessary information from the Russian Army and Russian secret services and... the police have decided to shelve the case,” a police statement said.

11:43 AM BST

Do you have a question about the war in ukraine.

Dominic Nicholls, The Telegraph’s Associate Editor (Defence) and co-host of the daily Ukraine: The Latest podcast, will be answering readers’ questions.

11:31 AM BST

Two russian trains destroyed in blow to putin’s war effort.

Two trains have been destroyed in Russia over the past few days, reducing the Kremlin’s logistics capacity, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR).

One train was set on fire in Orenburg, 1,100 kilometres east of the Ukrainian border, by “unknown persons” on April 28. Another was destroyed in a fire in the Russian city of Vladikavkaz overnight on April 26.

The train network has been critical for Russia throughout the war, with the Kremlin often relying on rail to carry and supply its convoys.

Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the destruction and Russia has yet to comment.

11:22 AM BST

Watch: russian missile attack ‘targets kharkiv hospital’ narrowly missing, 11:09 am bst, western banks in russia paid €800mn in taxes to kremlin last year.

The largest western banks that remain in Russia paid the Kremlin more than €800 million of taxes last year – a fourfold increase on prewar levels, according to an analysis by the Financial Times. It reports:

“The seven top European banks by assets in Russia – Raiffeisen Bank International, UniCredit, ING, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo and OTP – reported a combined profit of more than €3bn in 2023. Those profits were three times more than in 2021 and were partly generated by funds that the banks cannot withdraw from the country. The jump in profitability resulted in the European banks paying about €800mn in tax, up from €200mn in 2021. It came in addition to profits at US lenders such as Citigroup and JPMorgan. The taxes paid by European banks, equivalent to about 0.4 per cent of all Russia’s expected non-energy budget revenues for 2024, are an example of how foreign companies remaining in the country help the Kremlin maintain financial stability despite western sanctions.”

10:36 AM BST

Ukraine’s farm minister welcomes end of polish border blockade.

Ukraine’s farm minister has welcomed the ending of a months-long border blockade by Polish protesters, which he said followed productive talks with Poland.

“The negotiations that took place were not easy, but the main thing is that we have a result,” Mykola Solsky was quoted as saying in a statement from the ministry.

10:19 AM BST

British men charged under new security law over pro-russia attack.

Several British men were charged under a new national security law for supporting Russia by carrying out an arson attack on a Ukraine-linked business.

Three other men were charged with related offenses “in order to benefit Russia” by conducting “hostile activity in the UK,” the Crown Prosecution Service.

Dylan Earl, 20, is suspected of involvement “in foreign power threat activity” and allegedly planned the arson attack. He has been charged under the National Security Act 2023.

Paul English, 60, and Nii Mensah, 21, were charged with aggravated arson. Jake Reeves, 22, is accused of agreeing to “accept a material benefit from a foreign intelligence service as well as aggravated arson.”

A fifth man, Dmitrijus Paulauska, 22, was charged with having information about terrorist acts.

All the men will appear at London’s Old Bailey Central Criminal Court on May 10.

09:58 AM BST

Ukraine focusing on improving drone operations.

Ukraine is “making every effort” to increase its drone operations, Volodymyr Zelenksy has said on social media.

We are making every effort to increase our capabilities in drone operation. And I thank our partners who help us. I thank everyone who trains operators, as well as our warriors for their efficiency. I thank everyone involved in the production and those who ensure better… pic.twitter.com/KzswEKrkKu — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 29, 2024

09:53 AM BST

Seven ukrainians injured in 24 hours.

Russian attacks on Ukraine have injured seven citizens over the past 24 hours, regional authorities said, reported by the Kyiv Independent.

Strikes on the town of Krasnohorivka and the villages of Ptyche and Zhelanne in Donetsk Oblast injured three people, governor Vadym Filashkin said.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian troops attacked a house in the town of Kupiansk, injuring a 35-year-old woman and 52-year-old man, according to governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Another 59-year-old man was reportedly wounded in an attack on the village of Strilecha.

In the village of Bairak, a 48-year-old man was hospitalized after being injured by a mine, the governor said.

09:40 AM BST

Polish protesters unblock all crossings into ukraine.

Polish protesters unblocked all border crossing points with Ukraine on Monday morning, a Ukraine border guard spokesperson said on a Ukrainian TV broadcast.

“Fortunately, we have unblocked all directions on the border with Poland,” the border guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko said of Polish farmers ending the blockade. He added that the trucks transporting grain products will still face restrictions.

The farmers have been blocking border crossings with Ukraine to protest what they say is unfair competition from goods from Ukraine since a duty-free deal was announced by the EU in the wake of Russia’s invasion.

09:33 AM BST

Icymi: ukrainian air force use ipads in soviet-era jets to control modern western weaponry, 09:14 am bst, number of russian men with disabilities increases, says mod.

Since 2023, there has been a record 30 per cent increase in Russian men aged 31-59 with disabilities, according to the British Ministry of Defence.

Russian demographers claim the increase is most likely due to the growth in military casualties following the invasion.

Since 2023, there's been a record 30% increase in Russian men aged 31-59 with disabilities. Russian demographers claim the increase is most likely due to the growth in military casualties following the invasion. 🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/lLG9uf3VVE — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 28, 2024

09:11 AM BST

China’s xi to visit france.

Chinese president Xi Jinping will visit France, Serbia and Hungary from May 5-10, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry announced, with war in Ukraine and the Middle East expected to be high on the agenda.

“China looks forward to working with France to further enhance political mutual trust, solidarity and cooperation,” Lin said.

He also said Xi will hold talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to exchange views on bilateral relations and discuss upgrading the China-Serbia relationship.

08:58 AM BST

Two russian journalists jailed on ‘extremism’ charges for alleged work for navalny group.

Two Russian journalists have been arrested on “extremism” charges and ordered to remain in custody pending investigation and trial on accusations of working for a group founded by the late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny.

Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin both denied the charges. They will be detained for a minimum of two months before any trials begin, and each face a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of six years for alleged “participation in an extremist organisation”.

Mr Gabov and Mr Karelin are accused of preparing materials for a YouTube channel run by Navalny’s Foundation for Fighting Corruption, which has been outlawed by Russian authorities. Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony in February.

Mr Gabov is a freelance producer who has worked for multiple organisations, including Reuters, the court press service said.

Mr Karelin, 41 and who has dual citizenship with Israel, has worked for a number of outlets, including for The Associated Press. He was a cameraman for German media outlet Deutsche Welle until the Kremlin banned the outlet from operating in Russia in February

They are just the latest journalists arrested amid a Russian government crackdown on dissent and independent media that intensified after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.

08:39 AM BST

German ex-soldier to stand trial in russian spying case.

A German former soldier will go on trial today accused of spying for Russia, as Berlin faces a surge in Moscow-linked espionage cases amid the Ukraine war.

The suspect, identified only as Thomas H, was arrested in August last year in the western city of Koblenz.

He is accused of passing information to Russian intelligence services that he obtained while working in the procurement unit of the German military, or Bundeswehr.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Germany – the second-largest supplier of military aid to Kyiv – has seen a jump in alleged spying cases linked to Moscow.

Thomas H. had been a career soldier, working at the army’s Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support Department.

In May 2023, the suspect “approached the Russian general consulate in Bonn and the Russian embassy in Berlin and offered his cooperation”, prosecutors said in a statement when he was arrested. “In the process, he passed on information he had obtained in the course of his professional activities for it to be passed on to a Russian intelligence service.”

After his arrest, media reports suggested he had access to sensitive information as the department he worked in counted among its tasks the procurement of highly modern systems for electronic warfare.These included technology for the surveillance and disruption of opponents’ radio systems and the shutting down of enemy radio or airshield systems.

Thomas H. faces charges of being an intelligence agent and violating rules on official secrecy. He is standing trial in the western city of Duesseldorf, with hearings set to last until late June.

08:33 AM BST

Pictured: life in ukraine, 08:22 am bst, ukraine spy agency says telegram platform blocks its key bots.

Ukraine’s military spy agency GUR said that the management of the Telegram messaging platform has blocked a number of official bots that opposed Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.

“Today, the management of the Telegram platform unreasonably blocked a number of official bots that opposed Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, including the main Intelligence bot,” GUR said in a statement posted on the Telegram.

“Despite the blocking of our bot – your personal data is safe.”

Telegram’s press service did not immediately reply to Reuters’ request to comment.

08:21 AM BST

Ukraine says resisting heavy attacks in east amid russian advance.

Ukraine said it has foiled 55 Russian attacks in the eastern Donetsk region, a day after it admitted to a worsening situation on the front line.

Moscow over the weekend claimed another eastern village, Novobakhmutivka, as struggling Ukrainian forces await the arrival of crucial US weapons.

The Ukrainian army said it had “repulsed 55 attacks” in several villages north and west of Novobakhmutivka.

These included Ocheretyne, where heavy fighting was reported on Sunday.

The villages lie north of the hub of Adviivka, captured by Russian troops in February. Moscow’s forces have since pushed deeper into the Donetsk region. Further south, Ukraine said its forces “continue to hold back the enemy” in several settlements west of the Moscow-held city of Donetsk, including the town of Krasnogorivka, which has served as a key stronghold for Kyiv.

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said Sunday his troops had retreated to new defensive lines further to the west in some areas.

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‘I could just see the relief.’ In visit with Zelensky in Ukraine, Representative Keating touts bipartisan US support for military aid.

WASHINGTON — After the House finally approved desperately needed military aid for Ukraine , Representative Bill Keating raced out of the Capitol Saturday for a trip to the war-torn nation—making sure to bring proof that the lengthy legislative logjam had been broken.

Two flights and a 10-hour train ride from Poland later, the Bourne Democrat was in Kyiv Monday night meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Keating presented him with a printout of the 311-112 vote demonstrating the strong bipartisan support for Ukraine’s war against Russia’s invasion despite the months of partisan wrangling.

“I said, ‘That’s 73 percent,’ and he was just ecstatic about the vote,” Keating said in a phone interview Tuesday from Krakow as he returned from their trip. “I could just see the relief. There’s enormous pressure given what’s going on in the battlefield.”

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Keating is one of Ukraine’s strongest congressional supporters, a pin featuring the country’s blue-and-yellow flag perpetually affixed to his lapel, and has been pushing to secure more money for ammunition and weapons for its depleted military. For weeks, hard-right House Republicans had blocked a bipartisan $95 billion foreign aid bill that included money for Ukraine as well as Israel and Taiwan.

But the Senate gave overwhelming final approval Tuesday night to $61 billion in military assistance for Ukraine as part of that foreign aid package after House Speaker Mike Johnson split the bill into pieces and allowed votes last week. Keating said Ukrainians had been following it closely.

“They were sitting on pins and needles watching that vote,” Keating said of the House vote. “And there were people literally watching the vote in any way that they could even with the time difference.”

Keating is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and serves as the top Democrat on its subcommittee focusing on Europe. He traveled to Kyiv with the the subcommittee’s chair, Representative Thomas Kean Jr., a New Jersey Republican. The small bipartisan delegation also included Representatives Nathaniel Moran, a Texas Republican, and Madeleine Dean, a Democrat from Pennsylvania.

The trip had been postponed and was still up in the air last week as the House scrambled to consider the separate foreign aid bills, Keating said. The lawmakers only knew they would leave for sure on Saturday morning as the House scheduled votes for the bills. Keating decided to take the printout of the vote before dashing off to the airport, ecstatic to be able to show it to Zelensky himself.

The four lawmakers met with Zelensky for an hour in his presidential office. It was Keating’s first trip to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion, but he had met with Zelensky before and found his mood different this time as they discussed the war.

“He was just relaxed and more open to talking about it, as if a great pressure — at least for the time being — had been released,” Keating said. “He was obviously relieved, but still he’s in the midst of war.”

Ukrainian generals had told the lawmakers that Russia had a huge military advantage as additional US aid was held up in Congress.

“They literally couldn’t defend themselves because they didn’t have enough ammunition,” Keating said.

The meeting took place just after Zelensky got off the phone with President Biden, who told him the US would send air defense weapons to Ukraine once the Senate approves the aid .

“The president has assured me that the package will be approved quickly and that it will be powerful, strengthening our air defense as well as long-range and artillery capabilities,” Zelensky said in a post on X .

The assistance can’t arrive soon enough as the Russians have been retaking territory that Ukraine’s forces fought hard to reclaim itself after the initial invasion, Keating said. The lawmakers talked with reporters on the ground in Kyiv and were asked about the lengthy delay in Congress approving more military aid.

Keating told them Ukraine wasn’t being singled out.

“There’s a dysfunctional part of this where we can’t even fund our own government in a timely manner,” Keating said. “It should have been done sooner, but I tried to put into context to them that this is unfortunately the way we’re operating on everything.”

Jim Puzzanghera can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him @JimPuzzanghera .

Ukrainian President's Office provides details of Zelenskyy's meeting with Cameron, on private visit to Kyiv

T he Office of the President of Ukraine provided details on Friday morning of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who paid an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Thursday, 2 May.

Source: European Pravda

Details: The press service of the President’s Office noted that Zelenskyy had thanked the UK government for the largest defence support package of £0.5 billion, which was announced last week.

Quote: " The provision of this package, together with the crucial decision by the United States to help, is of great importance to us at this key moment," Zelenskyy said.

The President briefed Cameron on the situation at the front and emphasised that it was important that the weapons provided for in the support package arrive as soon as possible. First of all, it concerns armoured vehicles, ammunition and missiles of various types.

Special attention was paid to preparations for the upcoming international events: the Group of Seven summit in Italy, the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland, the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., and the fourth summit of the European Political Community in the United Kingdom.

Cameron's visit to Kyiv was reported by Reuters, which interviewed the diplomat. The agency noted that Cameron met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his second visit to the Ukrainian capital as UK Foreign Secretary.

Meanwhile, no official sources in either of the countries reported on Cameron’s visit. The same goes for Cameron's meetings with Kuleba and Zelenskyy.

In Kyiv, Cameron promised that the UK would provide Ukraine with three billion pounds of annual military aid, and this would continue for "as long as it takes."

Cameron also told Reuters that Ukraine has the right to use weapons provided by London to strike targets in Russia.

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US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says

• The US has purchased 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, a report from the Kyiv Post says.
• Kazakhstan, a historic ally of Russia, is engaging more with Western nations.
• The planes could be used for spare parts or as decoys in conflict regions, the Kyiv Post reported.

The US has acquired 81 obsolete Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, a report from the Kyiv Post says.

Kazakhstan, which is upgrading its air fleet, auctioned off 117 Soviet-era fighter and bomber aircraft, including MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 bombers from the 1970s and 1980s.

The Kyiv Post reported that the declared sale value was one billion Kazakhstani tenge, or $2.26 million, equalling an average value for each plane of $19,300.

The outlet cited reports from the Ukrainian Telegram channel Insider UA and the Russian news site Reporter saying the US purchased 81 of the aged, unusable warplanes.

The Kyiv Post reported that the motive behind the US purchase remained undisclosed but that the aircraft could be used in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service.

The Russian site Reporter said the sale was made through offshore companies.

But Kazspetsexport, Kazakhstan's state-owned weapons importer and exporter, denied selling military airplanes to Ukraine in a statement , saying that foreign companies were not allowed to bid.

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The Pentagon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Given Ukraine's continued reliance on Soviet-era weapons , the aircraft could either serve as a source of spare parts or be strategically deployed as decoys at airfields, the Kyiv Post reported.

The Mikoyan MiG-31 is a supersonic interceptor that was designed to defend Soviet airspace, according to Airforce Technology . It played a critical role during the Cold War.

Derived from the MiG-23, the MiG-27 was a ground-attack aircraft and saw action in conflicts such as the Soviet-Afghan War. The MiG-29 excelled in air-to-air combat. It was widely exported and remains in service with some air forces.

Despite its age, the Su-24 — an all-weather tactical bomber — remains in service with several air forces, including the Russian Aerospace Forces and Ukrainian Air Force.

Kazakhstan, formerly part of the Soviet Union, has maintained close ties to Russia and historically was one of its strongest allies. But the relationship has shifted since Russia invaded Ukraine, with Kazakhstan aligning itself more with the West, drawing the fury of some in Russia.

The Kyiv Post reported that the Central Asian country's efforts to upgrade its military capabilities seemed to coincide with its increasing engagement with Western nations, signaling a shift away from historical ties with Moscow.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, visited Kazakhstan in February 2023, where he said that the US strongly supported "its independence, its territorial integrity," according to Agence France-Presse .

Some of Russia's outspoken propagandists have suggested that Russia should look to Kazakhstan following its invasion of Ukraine.

One Russian TV commentator, Vladimir Solovyov , said his country "must pay attention to the fact that Kazakhstan is the next problem because the same Nazi processes can start there as in Ukraine."

Agreements on trade, education, environment, and mineral supplies reflect the deepening ties between Kazakhstan and Western nations as it navigates geopolitical challenges posed by neighboring countries such as Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Iran.

Correction: April 28, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated the currency conversion rate of the Kazakhstani tenge to the dollar. One billion tenge is worth $2.26 million, not $1.5 million.

Watch: Russia is buying back weapons it sold to other countries as its arsenal runs low

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A perfect symbol of resistance in New York: Local hidden gems

From overlooked roadside attractions to offbeat museums and obscure natural wonders, Local Hidden Gems will showcase some of the unique and unexpected treasures that make America extraordinary. We will emphasize charm, surprise and delight.

Local hidden gem: The Hess Triangle in New York City, New York

Nestled in New York City's Greenwich Village, the Hess Triangle is a hidden gem with a story as compelling as it is defiant. Amid the bustling streets, this small triangular plot of land at Christopher Street and 7th Avenue South carries a legacy not known to most passersby.

In the early 20th century, as the city expanded its subway system, David Hess staunchly resisted selling his property, despite eminent domain threats. Left with only a tiny remnant of his land, Hess planted a concrete slab in 1922, defiantly inscribed with "Property of the Hess Estate, which has never been dedicated for public purposes."

Today, the Hess Triangle stands as a symbol of individual resistance against bureaucratic might. Visitors might miss it, but locals who seek out this unassuming monument reflect on its message of defiance amid urban development. It serves as a beacon of hope for those challenging the status quo, embodying the enduring spirit of New York City.

In a metropolis known for towering landmarks, the Hess Triangle offers a different beauty — one rooted in history and resilience. Small but significant, it beckons travelers to discover the hidden stories past the glitz. In the city that never sleeps, the Hess Triangle stands as a testament to the power of the human spirit.

Where: 110 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014

More information: " In the West Village, a remnant of NYC’s onetime smallest plot of land remains ," A. Plitt (2017).

California second-grade teacher becomes rare traveler to visit every country in the world

A schoolteacher in the San Francisco area has joined the elite ranks of humans who have visited every nation on Earth.

Lucy Hsu, who teaches second grade in San Jose, California, has officially visited 193 nations.

Most travel clubs and groups use the number of nations as 193 because that’s how many nations are members of the United Nations, Hsu explains.

Hsu, as  NBC Bay Area first reported , visited the last country on her list, Syria, in May 2023.

She says she waited a long time for Syria to be open again to Americans (the United States Department of State put the country on its “Do Not Travel” list months after Hsu visited). When she finally traveled there, she was bracing herself “to make sure nothing happens.”

“When we got into Syria ... I felt really excited, obviously, and a little bit surreal,” she tells TODAY.com “I couldn’t believe this was actually happening. I felt very calm. Like there was a sense of calm that ‘Oh, I’ve reached my goal.’”

There is no official tally of who has visited every country in the world but it’s estimated to be somewhere around 400.

The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Hsu says she didn’t travel much as a child and got her first passport at 23.

“Growing up, it was a very modest upbringing and we never went anywhere,” Hsu says, but before going back to school for her master’s degree, she decided to get her passport and go backpacking through Europe. From there, she caught the travel bug and made it a goal to travel every summer.

As her country count climbed higher and higher, she figured out how to keep her costs low and give back at the same time.

“I realized if I planned my summers properly, I could travel on a low budget and see a couple of countries that are clustered together,” she explains. “And then I realized by the time I’d traveled for five or six years, I’d reached probably 60-70 countries.”

She says she discovered networks of other international travelers in various clubs who offered tips and new destination goals. She joined the Century Club — which has the goal of hitting 100 countries — and then once she reached that goal, Hsu figured she would keep going.

“And I just thought, ‘Well, how could I go to 193? Is it possible?” she says. “Then I realized, ‘Oh, you actually can go to Afghanistan safely. And you can actually go to Iran and North Korea safely.’ So why not?”

How is Hsu able to afford so much travel?

Hsu, 42, says that the biggest question people ask her is how she’s able to afford to travel so much.

She says it’s through a variety of cost-saving strategies but her biggest one is by signing up to do volunteer exchange programs and homestays.

She says she uses  Workaway  — a subscription-based website that connects volunteers with vetted organizations — to find hosts and opportunities.

She says she’s done many different types of cultural exchanges but mostly ones “geared towards education and working with children because that’s my profession and that’s my passion.”Courtesy Lucy Hsu

Hsu adds that she is a “low-key traveler” and often stays in hostels using a website called  HostelWorld  — and has even found deals working at hostels in exchange for her room and board.

She offered a few other suggestions for traveling on a smaller budget, including earning credit card points to rack up rewards.

Hsu says she has also taken low-cost buses across borders and trains while on her travels.

She says it’s important to her to help people realize that travel is more attainable than they might think.

“There’s still a lot of misconceptions about travel being unattainable ... or that it’s very unsafe or unaffordable,” she says.

But now, she says, she’s learned how to make trips happen and wants to spread the knowledge — especially as, Hsu notes, there are so few minority women in her international travel community.

“Travel is attainable if you’ve learned ways to do it in a budget-conscious way. And those methods are out there if you want to research,” she says. “Travel is less unattainable than people think.”

Hsu’s favorite countries out of 193

Hsu says it’s hard to choose her favorite trips because she’s had so many wonderful experiences but Mongolia stands out in her mind.

“It’s really this land of undiscovered adventure,” she says, explaining she stayed a few days in the Gobi Desert in a yurt with a local family. She reminisced about riding the family’s camels in the morning and sliding down sand dunes with the children.

She also mentioned her love for her “Kenyan family” whom she stayed with for several months one summer and traveled around Eastern Africa.

“The thing that really reminds me of the value of travel is just a sense of gratitude for how much we have in our world. Yet we’re often unsatisfied because we want more,” she says.

“And I think those lessons I bring home to me when you want to complain about you know, there’s traffic or the weather sucks today, or my internet’s down and then you realize, ‘OK, let’s stop for a moment. There’s people living happily with none of those things.’”

Hsu’s tips for staying safe as a solo traveler or going to less touristy destinations

Hsu says the key to staying safe while traveling is to do your research ahead of time. For example, she says when she was debating going to North Korea, she initially thought it “sounds like a really stupid idea.”

“But once you do the research, then you realize, ‘Oh, there’s actually three companies that have been taking travelers to North Korea for eight years,’” she says.

She says relying on her network of fellow experienced travelers for recommendations for things like guides, drivers and translators, also made her feel safe, along with following the local rules.

Where is Hsu off to next?

Even though she’s now traveled to every nation (and Antarctica!), Hsu still has big plans for the future. She’s interested in traveling on a cargo ship, she says, and has several new cities and regions in countries she’s previously visited that she would like to see.

“It’s like what they say: ‘The more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know much,” she laughs. “And the more I travel, the more I realize I haven’t seen anything yet.”

Air Canada reports wider-than-expected loss, shares drop

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Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Bill Berkrot

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US job gains fewest in six months as labor market cools

U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in April and the increase in annual wages fell below 4.0% for the first time in nearly three years, but it is probably too early to expect that the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates before September as the labor market remains fairly tight.