President Zelensky did not answer questions about his chances of winning.
(Baonghean.vn) - Bloomberg reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not answer the question about the country's chances of winning without US help.
Ria Novosti quoted Bloomberg as saying that during a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on December 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was unable to answer journalists' questions about Ukraine's ability to win the conflict with Russia without new assistance from Washington.
"At a meeting with President Biden in the Oval Office, I asked President Zelensky whether he could win the conflict with Russia without additional US help. He answered without words, just a slight shrug" - Bloomberg journalist shared on social network X.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said he did not want to disappoint his Ukrainian counterpart and once again called on Congress to approve a new funding package, including for Ukraine, before the Christmas holiday.
President Zelensky met with US lawmakers on Capitol Hill to lobby for more aid amid ongoing conflict with Russia.After a private meeting with President Zelensky, US House Speaker Mike Johnson said US lawmakers expect a clear strategy from Kiev for the approval of the next aid package.
However, Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on December 12 that it was “almost impossible” for Congress to pass additional funding, including the stalled $60 billion package for Kiev, before Christmas, and instead must go toward a larger package that includes changes to border security policy.
Earlier the same day, John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator at the National Security Council, said the US government had enough funding for "a few weeks" and two military aid packages for Ukraine.
According to Ria Novosti, the US House of Representatives is unlikely to approve new aid to Ukraine before the end of the year. The Hill newspaper said that Republican members of the Senate also doubt whether they can agree on this issue by the end of the year.
Previously, US President Joe Biden asked Congress for $106 billion, including aid to Israel and Ukraine, but did not receive clear support in Congress.
The request would need approval from both the House and Senate before the president could sign it. Meanwhile, the administration acknowledges that the money previously allocated to help Kiev is running out, which is why arms shipments to Ukraine have been dwindling.
If Congress does not agree to provide aid to Ukraine now, it will have to wait until after the Christmas recess. The House of Representatives is on recess from December 14 to January 9, and the Senate is on recess from December 15 to January 8.
