On Thursday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) revealed that he had denied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress. The decision was made due to time constraints, as Zelensky is currently in Washington, D.C. seeking support for additional aid in Ukraine’s fight against Russian invaders.
Zelensky, who previously delivered a joint address in December, is making a push for more aid from the international community in his latest appeal to the United Nations earlier this week. President Joe Biden has requested an additional $24 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine on top of the $113 billion previously allocated.
Some Republicans in the House and Senate have voiced their opposition to the president’s request, questioning the effectiveness and progress of the aid already being invested. As a result, Zelensky’s meeting with McCarthy and other top members of the House was met with a number of questions from the GOP.
While McCarthy remained noncommittal on the aid package sought by the Biden administration, he stated that Zelensky had addressed many of their concerns during the meeting. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) also met with the Ukrainian leader privately, along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
In light of the ongoing disagreement over the aid package, McConnell took the opportunity on Wednesday to criticize Biden for his “passive, indecisive leadership” when it comes to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. However, he also reaffirmed his commitment to continuing to make the case for sustained support of Ukraine’s cause, emphasizing the importance of America’s interests in the matter.
Even though Kevin McCarthy avoided a public entrance to the meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, he took photos with Zelensky in the room, per source: pic.twitter.com/Tl8LvWWQJ0
— Annie Grayer (@AnnieGrayerCNN) September 21, 2023
In addition to meeting with members of Congress, Zelensky also participated in a closed-door meeting with senators at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. Despite the pushback from some Republicans, the Ukrainian leader stressed the urgency of the situation and the need for additional aid to help combat Russian aggression.
Despite not being able to deliver a joint address to Congress, Zelensky is using his time in Washington, D.C. to advocate for Ukraine’s cause and garner supportj for additional aid. With tensions between Ukraine and Russia continuing to escalate, it remains to be seen whether or not the United States will increase its investment in the conflict.
