The night in Ukraine: Zelenskyj wants to meet Biden in Washington

DAccording to reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj will start his first trip abroad this Wednesday since Russia’s war of aggression began in February. He is expected in the US capital Washington, where a meeting with US President Joe Biden is also planned in the White House. During the visit, the United States will also announce that it will deliver the Patriot air defense system to defend against Russian air attacks.

The day before, after his visit to the “Bakhmut Fortress” on the front line in eastern Ukraine, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his willingness to completely liberate all Russian-occupied territories. In Moscow, on the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the security forces to increase protection of the population in the “new areas” of the Russian Federation.

Personal appearance before the US Congress?

Several US media reported on Tuesday evening (local time) that Selenskyj wanted to speak personally to the US Congress this Wednesday and also meet Biden. There was initially no official confirmation of a visit to Washington. There was also no information from Kyiv about a planned trip. Zelenskyi has not left his country since the war began on February 24. For appearances on the political world stage – for example at the G7 summit in Elmau, Bavaria – he always had himself connected digitally from Ukraine.

In addition, according to media reports, the US government intends to announce the planned delivery of the Patriot air defense system during Zelenskyy’s possible visit to Washington. This was reported by several US media on Tuesday evening (local time), citing unnamed sources. The Patriot air defense system can repel aircraft, cruise missiles, drones or missiles even at a greater distance. It would complicate Russia’s missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. With better Western weapons, Ukraine is increasingly becoming a “no-fly zone” for Russian aircraft, and missiles and drones are also being better intercepted.

Zelenskyy: Will liberate all parts of Ukraine

“We will do everything possible and impossible, expected and unexpected, so that our heroes have everything they need to win,” Zelenskyy said in his daily video address on Tuesday evening. The troops should achieve what “all Ukrainians expect”.

Selenskyj listed the areas to be liberated. “This is our Luhansk region, this is our southern Ukraine, this is our Crimea,” he said. “Ukraine will not leave anything of its own to the enemy.” Russia has annexed the areas in violation of international law and now regards them as an integral part of its national territory.

During his visit to the east of the country, he saw many badly damaged and destroyed villages on the way to the “Fortress Bakhmut”, which had only recently been liberated by Ukrainian troops. “Look at Russia’s offensive, what it leaves when it plants its flag somewhere,” Zelenskyy said. “Scorched earth, shattered lives… pain, ruins and graves – this is the so-called Russian Peace.”