[ad_1]
By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinskiy returned to the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to cement relationships with lawmakers who will vote on future U.S. assist for his nation, which might be in jeopardy if former President Donald Trump is reelected.
Zelenskiy, who’s in Washington for this week’s NATO summit, met with leaders of the Senate and Home of Representatives and members of committees concerned in protection, spending, diplomacy and nationwide safety.
“It is an extremely necessary mission and we have to face by Ukraine,” Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner advised Reuters.
The go to comes amid deep uncertainty about this yr’s U.S. presidential election, which pits incumbent Democrat Joe Biden, a powerful supporter of assist to Ukraine, towards the Republican Trump, who has expressed skepticism in regards to the quantity of assist given.
Zelenskiy awarded the Order of Advantage of Ukraine to Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell earlier than having lunch with a bunch of Democratic and Republican senators. He later sat down with the Republican Home of Representatives speaker, Mike Johnson, telling reporters he had simply invited Johnson to Kyiv.
Johnson, a detailed Trump ally, mentioned it might be troublesome to search out the time for a visit earlier than the November election, when each seat within the Home shall be up for grabs and his fellow Republicans hope to protect or increase their slender majority.
“We would positive prefer to. The schedule’s fairly tight by way of the election for us, so it is troublesome to search out the time to go, however we might definitely prefer to,” Johnson mentioned.
Biden’s uneven June 27 debate efficiency towards Trump and low public approval have raised recent doubts about his psychological health, and a handful of congressional Democrats have referred to as for Biden to step apart.
Reuters reported final month that two Trump advisers had introduced the Republican candidate with a plan to finish Russia’s conflict in Ukraine – if he wins the Nov. 5 election – that entails telling Kyiv it is going to solely get extra U.S. weapons if it enters peace talks.
Zelenskiy urged U.S. political leaders in a speech on Tuesday to not watch for the result of the U.S. election earlier than shifting forcefully to assist Ukraine and referred to as for fewer restrictions on the usage of U.S. weaponry.
JOHNSON CHANGED COURSE
In Congress, dozens of Trump’s closest allies have voted repeatedly towards helping Zelenskiy’s authorities, though Democrats and extra internationally targeted Republicans have labored collectively to approve the $175 billion in assist for Ukraine Washington has authorized since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Most just lately, Johnson modified course in April – months after Biden requested the cash – and allowed the Home to vote on and cross $61 billion in help for Ukraine.
When Zelenskiy final visited Congress in December, Johnson had mentioned he wouldn’t assist Biden’s request for extra funding.
The Home handed the supplemental spending package deal by 311 to 112, with the “no” votes coming from conservative Republicans carefully allied with Trump. The vote fueled issues Trump’s celebration is not going to approve more cash for Ukraine in the event that they take management of the Home, Senate and White Home in November.
Nevertheless, Johnson mentioned in his first main nationwide safety handle this week that Russia poses a menace past Ukraine, and that American voters have expressed assist for the help as he traveled across the nation.
“Folks perceive that (Russian President Vladimir Putin) wouldn’t cease if he took Kyiv. He is a ruthless dictator for my part,” Johnson mentioned.
[ad_2]
Supply hyperlink
