US President Joe Biden announced $200 million in pre-approved aid for Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's marathon day of meetings in the US on Tuesday, Report informs via NBC News.
The latest tranche of assistance came as the Ukrainian president visited the White House and Capitol Hill to make the case for additional US support as an aid package with billions in funds for the war-torn country stalls amid partisan disagreements over immigration policies.
“We’ll continue to supply Ukraine with critical weapons and equipment as long as we can, including $200 million I just approved today in critical needed equipment, additional air defense interceptors, artillery and ammunition,” Biden said during a news conference with Zelenskyy. “But without supplemental funding, we’re rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has.”
Zelenskyy, in an exclusive interview with NBC News after the news conference, said that his meetings with lawmakers were helpful in that he got a chance to offer a detailed explanation of progress in his country's war against Russia.
Zelenskyy also described his meeting with Biden as a positive one. Asked if he believed Ukraine would win the war, he said: "Yes, of course."
Zelenskyy on Tuesday spoke with lawmakers in a closed-door gathering on Capitol Hill, where there is growing GOP skepticism about providing more financial and military support for Ukraine. He met with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who said that he had a "good meeting" and reiterated that he stands with Zelenskyy "against Putin's brutal invasion."