Zelenskyy Meets With Biden, Top US Officials

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Facts

• Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Capitol Hill Tuesday to make a last-ditch request for more funding for the war against Russia. While US Pres. Joe Biden has asked Congress to pass a $110.5B emergency aid package including $50B for Ukraine, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters after a meeting with Zelenskyy that a 'national security supplemental spending package' must first include more funding for America's southern border.¹
• In the Senate Republican leader Senator Mitch McConnel of Kentucky said that while he agrees with Democrats on funding Ukraine, 'We know that our border, just like Ukraine's borders and Israel's and Taiwan's, must be inviolable.' For his part, Zelenskyy did not take a side in the domestic immigration debate, instead sticking to his country's need for more funding.²
• After leaving his meeting with Senate Republicans without talking to reporters, Zelenskyy then met with Biden at the White House, during which the US president argued that 'Congress needs to pass the supplemental funds' to provide more aid to Ukraine. His Ukrainian counterpart emphasized that message, adding that he also needed help strengthening his nation's air defense system.¹
• Yesterday, Zelenskyy addressed US military officers at the National Defense University in Washington, during which he thanked the US for its support; he noted that Ukrainian 'soldiers are holding positions on the front' and 'haven't let Russia score any victory this year,' but added that Kyiv now has to 'win in the sky.'³
• Zelenskyy, who said a halt to US aid would be 'dreams come true' for Putin, also met with the International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva hours after the global body approved $900M for Ukraine. Elsewhere, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is threatening to veto Ukraine's accession to the EU — a move the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said would have 'devastating consequences.'⁴
• Prior to visiting the US, Zelenskyy made a stop in Argentina for the inauguration of the country's new president Javier Milei. During the event, the Ukrainian leader was seen having an animated discussion with his Hungarian counterpart, who has also opposed letting Ukraine into NATO.⁵

Sources: ¹New York Times, ²CNN, ³Voice of america, ⁴Guardian and ⁵Independent.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by Wall street journal. The American people have all but given up on Biden's domestic and foreign policy skills, which is why he must finally take the role of lead negotiator in this debate and give the GOP what it wants in exchange for Ukraine aid. As countless illegal migrants cross the border every day, Biden's approval on immigration has dropped to 33%. If he wishes to continue funding Ukraine, let alone win in 2024, he will have to listen to the desires of the American people, including the GOP, and demand a solution before Congress breaks for the holidays.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by Los angeles times. While some Republicans may care about border security, that's not why the Trump loyalists in the House are blocking this bill. What they actually care about is creating governmental chaos to the point where it looks as if governmental institutions themselves don't work. This is why they almost shut down the government during the budget debate and will likely do it again next month. The GOP wants to erode every norm of American politics, and not only is America paying the price but, shamefully, Ukraine is as well.

Predictions