Zelenskyy will arrive on Capitol Hill to grim mood as Biden's aid package for Ukraine risks collapse

 

By Lisa Mascaro And Stephen Groves The Associated Press

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will arrive on Capitol Hill to a darker mood than when he swooped in last winter for a hero's welcome, as the Russian invasion is grinding into a third year and U.S. funding hangs in balance.

Zelenskyy's visit Tuesday comes as President Joe Biden's request for an additional $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs is at serious risk of collapse in Congress. Republicans are insisting on strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry as draconian in exchange for the overseas aid.

“It is maddening,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a close ally of Biden, of the stalemate. “A very bad message to the world, to the Ukrainian people.”

The White House said the time was right for Zelenskyy’s trip to Washington as Biden pushes lawmakers to approve the aid package before the year-end holidays. But the mood turned grim at the Capitol on the eve of his arrival.

Zelenskyy will meet privately with senators and new House Speaker Mike Johnson, then talk with Biden at the White House as the once robust bipartisan support for Ukraine was slipping further out of reach.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/zelenskyy-will-arrive-on-capitol-hill-to-grim-mood-as-bidens-aid-package-for-ukraine/article_44d7dd0c-dca2-5b2b-a6c8-a2a454d0bf0c.html