On December 21, 2022, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi visited the United States. During the visit, he arrived at the White House, where he met with US President Joe Biden.
This is Zelenskyi's first foreign visit since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.
"An unprovoked, unjust, large-scale attack on the people of Ukraine has been going on for 300 days. For 300 days, the people of Ukraine have shown Russia and the whole world their steel essence and indomitable confidence in the fight for their country. The American people are ready to defend freedom from aggression. We provide air defense systems, artillery, ammunition. At first, the Americans, together with partners around the world, supported Ukraine," — Biden.
The main statements of the US President:
- Ukraine will receive $1,85 billion in military aid, which includes Patriot air defense systems.
- Ukraine won the battle for Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson - Ukraine exceeded Russia's expectations.
- We are waiting for the signing of $45 billion in additional aid for Ukraine
- Putin has no intention of fighting for peace. We must clearly say what Russia did. It deliberately attacked critical and civil infrastructure of Ukraine. Russia uses winter as a weapon.
- almost 2000 tanks, more than 800 artillery systems and 2 million shells were provided to Ukraine.
- The American people are with you and will be with you as long as it takes.
- I have never seen NATO or the EU more united than they are now.
"We give Ukraine what it needs to protect itself and be successful on the battlefield. I spent several hundred hours one-on-one with the heads of state of European countries, explaining to them why it is in their interests to support Ukraine. They fully understand this - and they do not want to start a war with Russia. They can avoid war if they help Ukraine win on the battlefield.” —Joe Biden.
President Zelensky confirmed the transfer of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine:
This is an important step in creating an air shield for Ukraine.
"We are discussing further sanctions and legal pressure on the terrorist state. Russia must be responsible for everything it does against our state, against our people, against all of Europe and the free world."
The main statements of the President of Ukraine:
- I'm coming home with great news, $2 billion worth of new weapons and the Patriot Air Defense.
- Strengthening air defense will deprive the terrorist state of its main tool - terror.
- Thank you for the 45 billion in aid, I hope this great support will be accepted by Congress.
- We have a clear vision of how our defense capability will be improved in the coming months.
- Russia will be free when the Kremlin wins in its head. We must defeat the Kremlin on the battlefield.
- We are not asking the American military to fight for us. I want to assure you that the Ukrainian military can perfectly control American tanks and planes too.
- Iran is sending weapons to Russia that destroy our critical infrastructure. One terrorist found another. They must be stopped.
- Russian tyranny has lost control over us. It will not affect our minds...
"In 300 days, we started a truly new stage in our relations - Ukraine and the USA. We have reached the level of real alliance, filled with meaning," — Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
"What message can I convey to Putin in view of the horrors he brought to our land? Why should we message him? He must be interested in saving what is left of his country's culture. I stand with the President of the United States, Joe Biden. I respect him as a person. For me, this is a subject, a historical personality. I can send him messages. Regarding Putin, in 2019 we had the Normandy meeting. At that time, we sent maximum messages to Putin so that in no case would there be a full-scale invasion. To have diplomatic solutions. He lied to everyone. What messages can you send him? He is no longer a subject in the civilized world."
Zelensky added that for him a just peace is the absence of compromises regarding our territory and compensation for all damages.
