bleep
Zelensky calls for ‘results’ from Washington, not just words of support
by Laura Kelly - 12/12/23 6:48 PM ET
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left Washington securing vocal support from President Biden, Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, but his visit was unable to break a congressional deadlock that is holding up billions of dollars of aid for his beleaguered country.
While Zelensky said he felt support in words from his meetings in Washington, he underscored that he is searching for concrete actions.
“I got the signal — they were more than positive, but we know that we have to separate words and, in particular, results,” he said in a press conference alongside Biden. “Therefore, we will count on particular results.”
Biden signed off on $200 million in new military assistance during Zelensky’s visit, but lawmakers are unlikely to deliver until 2024 the president’s request for an estimated $61 billion in additional funding to assist Ukraine.
Republicans have drawn a hard line on Biden’s offer: A discussion of changes to U.S. policy at the southern border in exchange for what was expected to be smooth passage for Ukraine aid and other foreign policy priorities.
“I’m ready and offered compromises already,” Biden said. “Holding Ukraine funding hostage in an attempt to force through an extreme Republican partisan agenda on the border is not how it works.”
Kyiv is now in the middle of one of the most contentious partisan battles in Washington.
more
https://thehill.com/policy/international/4356944-zelenksy-ukraine-results-biden-washington/
