“You will never be alone,” Biden Zelensky | War in Ukraine

When Ukraine’s independence was threatened, the American people, like generations of Americans before them, did not hesitate.Before adding, the US President said: We know that the conflict in Ukraine is part of something much bigger.

” The American people know that if we do not stand up to such blatant attacks on the fundamental principles of freedom, democracy and sovereignty and territorial integrity, the world will suffer dire consequences. »

We’ll be by your side as long as it takesHe continued thinking Never mind For the strength of the Western Alliance. I have never seenNATO or theEU Unity in anythingPresident Biden said.

For his part, Volodymyr Zelensky, who made his first foreign trip since the Russian offensive against Ukraine began on February 24, welcomed the US announcement of the most advanced Patriot air defense system available to the US military. . This is a very important step towards creating a safe airspace for UkraineHe told reporters, according to an interpreter’s translation.

But the Just silence To put an end to this conflict Mr. Biden mentioned earlier I do not mean any compromise on the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of my countryPresident of Ukraine emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden had a friendly chat under the eyes of cameras in the Oval Office.

Photo: Getty Images/Alex Wong

Help welcome after 300 days of war

Now dressed as his usual self, wearing trousers and a khaki sweater and heavy boots, Mr. Zelensky told Joe Biden, earlier in the day, that his Thank you from the bottom of my heart For his character Motor Against the invasion of Ukraine.

After 300 days of war, Volodymyr Zelensky has booked his first visit to the country that is Ukraine’s biggest aid provider. Washington announced significant new elements of military assistance during his visit, notably including the Patriot surface-to-air missile system.

It is a defensive systemThe US president underlined. It’s not an escalation move, it’s defensiveHe insisted.

The Ukrainian president is also due to address Congress later, which is preparing to vote on a new envelope worth nearly US$45 billion for Ukraine.

” Today’s endowment includes for the first time the Patriot air defense system, which is capable of shooting down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at significantly higher altitudes than the defense provided until then. »

1^R September 2021, Volodymyr Zelensky has already been welcomed to the White House by Joe Biden, who has pledged his support against Russia.

On Wednesday, the same two men gathered in the same place, but with a completely different historical purpose: their first meeting since Russia invaded Ukraine and turned Ukraine’s president into a warlord. Biden is the commander of the Western camp against Russia.

The Patriot missile system has long been a beacon for the United States and its allies as a homeland shield against incoming missiles in contested regions of the world.

Photo: Associated Press/Sebastian Appel

Russia did not take kindly to this visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, pledged on Wednesday to continue increasing the capabilities of his military and its nuclear capability, while rejecting all responsibility. Common sadness Ukrainian.

He announced his induction into service while addressing a large meeting with top officials In early January New Russian Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles and an increase in the strength of the Russian army to 1.5 million soldiers were considered.

His defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, vowed that Russian troops would fight. Combined Forces of the West Moscow has revealed that it intends to build support bases for its navy in Mariupol and Berdyansk, two occupied cities in southern Ukraine.

In Moscow, the Kremlin on Wednesday warned against further US arms deliveries to Ukraineaggravating Controversy His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, denied Mr. Putin’s position on his refusal to hold talks with Vladimir Putin. He said he didn’t expect that from Zelensky.

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For his part, the Russian defense minister, who gave an update via video conference to some 15,000 military officers on Wednesday, was one of them. Priorities It will be the year 2023 Special action should be taken regularly [en Ukraine] Until all his tasks are completed.

On the ground, fighting continued Wednesday, with Ukrainian civil servants reporting Russian attacks, including shelling, in the east and northeast. At least 5 people have been killed and 17 injured in the last 24 hours in the country, the President’s Office said.

The Russian military, for its part, claimed capture New heights and dominant lines Near Donetsk, a stronghold of Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Much of the fighting is concentrated in the east, after a series of reverses by the Russian military in northeastern and southern Ukraine.

Russia has been carrying out massive bombings of Ukrainian infrastructure since October, cutting off electricity and water.

The distribution of patriotic systems aims to respond to these attacks.