The latest news on Zelenskyy's visit to Washington
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Joe Biden at the White House today to discuss the impasse in Washington over more aid in the war with Russia. The two leaders then held a joint news conference, where Zelenskyy said it was "insane" to suggest his country cede territory to Russia. Biden warned that Putin will keep going if he's victorious in Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including senators in a closed-door gathering this morning. Afterward, he met with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has been the biggest obstacle to Biden's aid request.
- Republicans have pushed back against Biden's proposed aid package, which includes funding for Israel and U.S. border operations, unless Democrats agree to pair the aid with tougher border policies.
- Zelenskyy made a plea for more funding in remarks yesterday at the National Defense University. He also met with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva yesterday as the IMF convened over the release of additional funds for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy: 'Of course' Ukraine will win the war
Zelenskyy, in an exclusive interview with NBC News after the joint news conference with Biden, said his meetings with lawmakers were helpful in that he got a chance to offer a detailed explanation of progress in his country’s war against Russia.
“I think we had a very good meeting with the senators,” Zelenskyy said, surrounded by security guards in green uniforms as he left the Hall of the States building after an appearance on Fox News. “And we spoke with both parties represented. I think they didn’t know all the details about what was going on in the battlefield.”
“Yes, they recognized that we had really good success on the Black Sea against Russian ships, and it’s very good,” he continued.
Zelenskyy also described his meeting with Biden as a positive one. Asked whether he believed Ukraine would win the war, he said: “Yes, of course.”
Zelenskyy calls today's Washington meetings 'very constructive'
Zelenskyy said in a Fox News interview that his meeting with Biden and lawmakers on Capitol Hill was "very constructive" and that he heard "positive voices from both parties."
"I spoke with senators and President Biden and with the [House] speaker," Zelenskyy told Fox News' Brett Baier this evening, adding that during his visit he has highlighted what's needed for success on the battlefield against Russia.
As Congress considers supplemental funding to Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, "I think that's it's very important not to waste time."
Joint news conference ends
The Biden-Zelenskyy joint news conference ended around 5:30 p.m. ET.
It lasted just under 27 minutes, with each leader taking questions after making opening statements.
Biden reiterates that NATO is in Ukraine's future
Asked about NATO, Biden repeated remarks he has made before that "NATO will be in Ukraine's future, no question about that."
He said that Ukraine will become a NATO member once all allies agree and conditions are met but that now the U.S. needed to make sure Ukraine wins the war.
NATO's Article 5 states that an attack against one member is an attack on all.
Zelenskyy rejects as 'insane' any suggestion of ceding territory to Russia
Zelenskyy was asked how he would respond to the suggestion that his country should cede some of its territory to Russia.
"That’s insane, to be honest," Zelenskyy said. "We have our people there. We have our families there. We have our children there. That's a part of Ukrainian society, and we are talking about human beings."
Zelenskyy said that Ukrainians were being tortured, raped and killed and that giving up territory was tantamount to "giving up our people."
"It's not a matter of territory — it's a matter of life, of families, of children, of their histories," he said.
Zelenskyy: Putin 'hasn't won any victories'
Zelenskyy highlighted his country's fight for freedom, arguing that the freedom of one country affects others.
"We stand firm no matter what Putin tries," Zelenskyy said. "He hasn’t won any victories."
Zelenskyy also said that whoever controls the skies controls the war's duration. The Ukrainian president repeatedly thanked Biden and said American leadership is "crucial" in maintaining unity among other world leaders.
Biden says Putin will keep going if he isn't stopped in Ukraine
Biden said alongside Zelenskyy that Russian President Vladimir Putin poses threats beyond Ukraine.
“Today, Ukraine’s freedom is on the line. But if we don’t stop Putin, it will endanger the freedom of everyone almost everywhere,” Biden said.
"Putin will keep going, and would-be aggressors everywhere will be emboldened to try to take what they can by force," he added.
He also said Republicans who voted to oppose supplemental aid to Ukraine were being “celebrated by Russian propagandists.”
Schumer: Senate 'still trying' to pass aid bill before January
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said today that the Senate hasn't given up on passing supplemental Ukraine aid before the end of the year.
“We’re still trying. We are trying very, very hard to get this done,” Schumer told reporters today.
The remark came after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suggested that it would be "practically impossible" for Congress to pass a national security supplemental aid package before January.
The House is set to leave at the end of the week until 2024, but Schumer has asked House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to keep the House in session to allow for negotiations to continue.
When asked by NBC News whether he regretted that the White House had included border funding in their supplemental request, Schumer pointed the finger back at Republicans.
"Let’s get real here, the Republicans have been tying border to Ukraine for a long time, no matter what the White House did," Schumer said.
"The White House has put together a bill, but they’re not the ones, it’s not the White House that’s demanding border as part of Ukraine," he added. "It’s the Republicans, plain and simple."
Biden: 'Ukraine will emerge from this war proud ... unless we walk away'
During the news conference, Biden said that he will not walk away from Ukraine, and neither will the American people.
"Ukraine will emerge from this war, proud, free and firmly rooted in the West, unless we walk away," Biden said.
He also condemned Republicans holding Ukraine funding "hostage" in an attempt to push through border policy changes.
Biden and Zelenskyy hold news conference after meeting
Biden and Zelenskyy entered the room for their joint news conference after meeting at the White House.
The news conference is taking place in the Indian Treaty Room.