“We will defeat Russia,” says Zelensky
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Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to arrive in Washington today to meet with Joe Biden and visit Congress, marking his first visit outside Kyiv since Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president is already on his way to the United States, CNN reported, citing two sources.
Mr Zelensky and Mr Biden are expected to meet at the White House as Ukraine presses its demand for more air defense systems to counter Russian missile strikes.
The visit will come just two days after Mr Putin met his ally in the Ukraine war and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, fueling fears that Minsk could help Russia extend the invasion into the difficult winter months.
The high-level visit will coincide with plans by the Biden administration to send state-of-the-art air defense missile systems to Kyiv to thwart incoming attacks by Russian forces.
Mr Zelensky reached Bakhmut on Tuesday – the hottest spot in Ukraine’s ongoing war – and met Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front lines.
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Zelensky is expected to speak today at a joint session of Congress
His plans to travel to Washington were a closely guarded secret and were first announced late Tuesday afternoon. Ms. Pelosi, in a separate letter to House members, wrote that the lower chamber would put a “focus on democracy” to mark the end of the 117th Congress.
As such, Mr. Zelensky’s address will mark the end of Democratic control of the House of Representatives, as lawmakers soon return home for the holidays until the next Congress is sworn in. It will be the Ukrainian leader’s first visit to the US Capitol in person since the Russian invasion of his country began earlier this year.
Arpan Rai December 21, 2022 4:30 am
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Zelensky visits the “Bakhmut fortress” to meet with soldiers
Volodymyr Zelensky visited soldiers on the eastern frontline yesterday, boosting the morale of troops defending Ukraine’s hottest spot of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers.
“I returned from the Donetsk region, from our Bakhmut fortress. Today I was there to support our fighters, to present state awards, to express my gratitude to them. To all our heroes – those who protect not only Bakhmut there, and not only our Donbas, but all of Ukraine. We all need to understand this,” he said after returning to his nightly address.
And he added: “You know, on the way to the front line today I also passed through Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka, Konstantinovka… Cities, villages near them, which are now literally fighting for life. Life for all of us – for all Ukrainians and for everything Ukrainian, and even more – for everything and everyone who keeps humanity in themselves.
“Look at Russia’s offensive, what it leaves where it carries its flag. Burned earth, destroyed life… Pain, ruins and graves – this is the so-called “Russian world”. This is what our heroes stop,” he said.
Arpan Rai December 21, 2022 4:25 am
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Zelensky on his way to the US to meet with Biden after Putin meets with Lukashenko – report
Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to arrive in Washington today and meet with Joe Biden in his first visit outside Kyiv since Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine in February.
The Ukrainian president is already on his way to the United States, according to two sources, CNN reported.
The two leaders are expected to meet at the White House as Ukraine presses its demand for more air defense systems to counter Russian missile strikes.
Biden has not visited Ukraine since the war began, but the first lady visited the besieged country in May and met with several people affected by the war.
The high-level visit of the year will come just two days after Vladimir Putin met with his ally in the Ukraine war and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, sparking fears that Minsk could help Russia extend the invasion into the difficult winter months.
The Biden administration plans to send the most advanced air defense missile systems to Kyiv to thwart incoming attacks by Russian forces, officials announced earlier this month.
Arpan Rai December 21, 2022 4:15 am
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Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the war in Ukraine on Wednesday, December 21.
Arpan Rai December 21, 2022 3:36 am
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