Biden to Zelensky: "We Will Stand by You"

US-Ukraine Summit
Biden Urges Congress to Approve Ukraine Aid Package

U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a summit at the White House on the 12th (local time).

President Biden told President Zelensky, "We will stand by you," urging him not to lose hope.

In response, President Zelensky said, "The Ukrainian military proves every day that Ukraine can win."

This visit to the U.S. by President Zelensky is his third since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. It was urgently arranged amid growing fatigue among Americans regarding support for Ukraine and uncertainty in the U.S. Congress over the passage of an emergency security aid budget that includes assistance for Ukraine.

On the same day, President Biden announced $200 million (approximately 260 billion KRW) in military aid to Ukraine and urged Congress to pass a comprehensive security budget reflecting support for Ukraine, Israel, and others before the Christmas holiday.

Earlier, President Zelensky requested the passage of the Ukraine aid budget in a speech at the U.S. National Defense University the day before.

He emphasized, "If anyone is happy about the unresolved issues in Congress, it is Putin and his cronies," adding, "Delays in passing the security budget make their dreams come true. It also disheartens the fighters who are battling for freedom."

The White House submitted a security budget package worth $110 billion to Congress in October, which included $60 billion in aid to Ukraine, military support for Israel, and assistance for Taiwan. However, the Republican Party proposed and passed a separate budget excluding aid for Ukraine and only including support for Israel. This was due to rising negative public opinion in the U.S. regarding support for Ukraine. According to an online poll conducted by major foreign media and Michigan Ross from December 5-6 with 1,004 U.S. voters, 48% of Americans responded that the amount of military and financial aid to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia, is "too much."