Ukrainian President Zelensky to meet Biden in Washington 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to meet with President Joe Biden on Wednesday marking his first visit outside of Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February. 

Zelensky, who is already on his way to Washington, according to different sources, plans to visit the White House to meet with Biden and top administration officials. The Ukrainian president’s visit to the U.S. would mark his first official visit to a foreign country since February and would signal his strong relationship with the U.S.

The visit is planned to coincide with the announcement of an additional $1.8 billion defense assistance package to Ukraine. The new aid package will add to the nearly $20 billion that the U.S. has provided Ukraine since Russia began its invasion in February of this year—a sum larger than any other individual country has provided. 

The White House declined to comment on the potential visit or Biden’s announcement of the aid package. 

Details of the visit have not been finalized and have remained confidential due to security concerns, meaning that his plans could change with short notice. 

Zelensky is also tentatively scheduled to speak at a joint session of Congress and visit Capitol Hill to speak to lawmakers. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wouldn’t confirm reports of the potential visit. 

“We are ending a very special session of the 117th Congress with legislation that makes progress for the American people as well as support for our democracy. Please be present for a very special focus on Democracy Wednesday night,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to all House lawmakers. 

On Tuesday, President Zelensky made an unannounced visit to the city of Bakhmut, where Russian and Ukrainian forces have engaged in a tough battle. During his visit, he met with the troops and handed out awards to soldiers.