Ukraine's Zelenskyy to press skeptical Republicans on aid in Washington visit

WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the US capitol on Thursday (Sep 21) as Republican skeptics question whether Congress should approve a new round of aid for his country despite slower-than-hoped-for progress fighting Russian invaders.

Zelenskyy travels to Washington after seeking to shore up international support at the United Nations, on a crosstown blitz that includes meetings with US President Joe Biden and military leaders at the Pentagon and an address in the evening at the National Archives museum.

In the morning, Zelenskyy will meet with leaders of the Republican-led House of Representatives and House national security committees before a private session with the full US Senate.

While Biden and most congressional leaders still support aide to Ukraine, and Biden's Democrats control the Senate, Zelenskyy will face a tougher crowd than when he visited Washington nine months ago.

As Ukraine's military counteroffensive grinds on and Congress stages a bitter debate over spending ahead of a possible government shutdown, a growing chorus of Republicans have questioned the billions of dollars Washington has sent Kyiv for military, economic and humanitarian needs.

The US has sent some US$113 billion in security and humanitarian aid to help Zelenskyy's government since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Biden administration officials held a classified briefing for Congress on Wednesday evening, to push for an additional US$24 billion, saying if Russian President Vladimir Putin was allowed to take control of Ukraine and pushed through to the border of NATO, the cost to the United States would be much higher.

But some Republicans were not convinced.

"If there's some path in victory in Ukraine, I didn't hear it today. And I also heard that there's going to be no end to the funding requests," Republican Senator Josh Hawley, a vocal critic of Ukraine aid, told reporters.

Biden will announce a new US$325 million military aid package for Ukraine, which is expected to include the second tranche of cluster munitions fired by a 155mm Howitzer cannon.

"If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?" Biden asked world leaders at the United Nations on Tuesday.

Congress approved Ukraine assistance easily when both the Senate and House were controlled by Democrats. Zelenskyy, who has become a powerful advocate for his country, was greeted as a hero when he addressed a joint meeting of Congress in December.

Support in the Senate, both from Biden's fellow Democrats and Republicans, has remained strong.

"Our nation has a fundamental interest in Ukrainian victory and European security," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in a Senate speech on Wednesday, where he criticised Biden for acting too slowly to help Ukraine.

Solid majority of Americans support providing weaponry to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, Reuters/Ipsos polling shows.

But some of the Republicans who took narrow control of the House in January are questioning the wisdom of continuing to send funds to Kyiv. About a third of the House Republican caucus voted in July for a failed proposal to cut funding for Ukraine.

Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy did not arrange a meeting on Thursday where Zelenskyy could make his case for continued assistance to the entire House, just a small meeting with himself and a few other leaders.

McCarthy, who as speaker controls what legislation comes up for House votes, said Zelenskyy needed to convince him to back continued aid.

"Is Zelenskyy elected to Congress? Is he our president? I don't have to commit anything," McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday.

"I have questions for him. Where's the accountability on the money we've already spent? What is the plan for victory? I think that's what the American public wants to know."