Ukraine President Zelenskyy Visits U.S. as Washington Approves Patriot Missile System for Ukraine

On Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine arrived in the United States for the first time since the conflict began in February. This is the first known journey he has taken outside of his homeland since then.

President Joe Biden will welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House in the afternoon for a meeting between high-ranking officials from both countries. At 4:30 p.m. local time, the two leaders will hold a press conference. Later in the evening, Zelenskyy is expected to address a joint session of Congress at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, declared a $1.85 billion military package for Ukraine, which includes a Patriot missile system. Russia cautioned the United States against sending the missile defense system to Ukraine.

On Wednesday, President Zelenskyy tweeted that the upcoming meeting would be centered around increasing the strength and defensive abilities of Ukraine.

The president made a sudden journey to Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine, on Tuesday. While there, he spoke with the troops who are defending the city from the Russian forces that have been attempting to take it over for a few months. His visit to the U.S. follows shortly after.

President Zelenskyy expressed his admiration for the troops and civilians in Donetsk city, commending them for their courage and strength in defending their homeland. He stated, "Bakhmut Fortress. Our people. Unconquered by the enemy. You have proven that we will not surrender and will remain steadfast. Ukraine is proud of you and I am proud of you! Thank you for your bravery, resilience and determination in fending off the enemy."

According to a Ukrainian official, President Zelenskyy has arrived in the United States and is now on American soil, as reported by NBC News.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine is set to make his first journey outside of the country since the Russian incursion began in February of last year. He is due to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House at 2 p.m. ET and will be delivering a speech to a joint session of the U.S. Congress later in the day.

Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, has verified the news of a new assistance package for Ukraine. This package will include $1 billion from the State Department and an additional $850 million from the Department of Defense.

A spokesperson from the State Department has stated that the $1 billion package is anticipated to include a variety of military capabilities, in addition to those not specified.

The Defense Department has allocated $850 million for a package of capabilities, which are anticipated to include the following.

Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, implored his Republican peers to back the omnibus government funding bill, particularly the nearly $45 billion in extra funding for Ukraine.

McConnell stated on the Senate floor that the majority of both the American people and Congress are in favor of continuing to help Ukraine, and this is not mainly due to any inspiring speeches or charitable intentions. This was said just before Zelenskyy was scheduled to speak before a joint session of Congress.

He stated that the most logical reasons for continuing to assist Ukraine in their fight against the Russian invaders are based on practical American interests.

Senator McConnell stated that by providing aid to Ukraine, the United States is showing its dedication to the fundamental values of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This action is likely to discourage other countries from engaging in military aggression, and could help to prevent more costly and destructive wars in the future.

He was aware of the Republican Party's disapproval of many of the components of the omnibus bill, but he implied that they had no other option but to back it.

Senator McConnell stated that the current situation leaves senators with two choices: either provide the necessary resources and stability to the military, or deny them.

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, released a letter from her office in which she extended an invitation to Volodymyr Zelenskyy to speak before a joint session of Congress.

In a letter sent on behalf of bipartisan Congressional leadership, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California expressed her immense respect and admiration for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's leadership during wartime.

In the face of Vladimir Putin's terrible actions, Ukrainian freedom fighters have demonstrated an unwavering determination and an unyielding spirit - standing up to Russia's oppressive and unjustified incursion. During this difficult time, your brave, loyal, and tireless leadership has encouraged not only your citizens, but the entire world, to join the struggle for freedom.

Tonight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to speak before Congress during his first trip to the United States since the conflict began in February.

President Zelenskyy's trip to Washington will be split into afternoon activities with President Biden and an evening at Capitol Hill, where he will speak to a joint session of the United States Congress.

The following is the most recent schedule, as reported by the White House and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

American authorities are taking extreme precautions to ensure the safety of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his first known journey abroad while his country is at war.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, stated in an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that he would not go into detail about a certain individual's travel plans.

He stated that the U.S. was helping the Ukrainian government to guarantee his safe arrival and that he was on his way as he spoke. Kirby further commented, “And obviously, since he needs to return to his country, we will be cautious in terms of what we discuss.”

At 2 p.m. ET, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to arrive at the White House.

At 2 p.m. ET, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to arrive at the White House for a meeting with President Joe Biden, which is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.

At 4:30 p.m., the two are set to have a joint press conference, and later in the evening, the Ukranian leader will be delivering a speech to Congress at 7:30 p.m.

I wish you a pleasant journey, Volodymyr! I'm delighted to have you here. We have a lot to talk about, Biden tweeted early Wednesday morning.

President Zelenskyy's visit to the United States is taking place as the Senate is getting ready to vote on a comprehensive spending bill that includes around $45 billion in both military and economic assistance to Ukraine in the upcoming year, which is more than what former Vice President Biden asked for in November.

On Wednesday, Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, suggested increasing the age range for obligatory Russian military service to include citizens between the ages of 21 and 30. He also declared that Russia's forces would remain engaged in Ukraine in the upcoming year.

According to the current legislation, Russians aged 18-27 are subject to mandatory military service. However, both Defense Minister Shoigu and President Vladimir Putin have made it clear that conscripts are not being sent to participate in the conflict in Ukraine.

At a year-end gathering with Russia's military leaders and President Putin, Defense Minister Shoigu announced that the country was expediting the delivery of modern weaponry to the armed forces.

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has promised to upgrade the nation's military forces. He has declared that there will be no limits on the financial backing of the military and that they will be equipped with the most up-to-date weaponry.

On Wednesday, President Putin held a meeting with military officials and members of Russia's defense ministry to discuss the "special military operation" in Ukraine and the progress of the war.

He declared that Russia's military had acquired a great deal of experience in Ukraine and that they would "enhance their military capability," as reported by Reuters. He also mentioned that "there are no limitations on the funding of the army."

He highlighted the significance of drones in warfare, citing Russia's utilization of Iranian-made drones to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which has had a destructive effect on the nation's power grid. Additionally, he asserted that Russia's intercontinental ballistic "Sarmat" missile, nicknamed "Satan II," would be ready to be used in the near future.

The conflict in Donetsk, Ukraine has not shown any signs of abating, according to a Ukrainian official who reported that Russian forces bombarded the entire front line in the region on Tuesday night.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, reported on Telegram that the Russians had bombarded the whole frontline from Vuhledar to Lyman during the night. He added that one person had been killed and two more had been wounded in separate shelling episodes.

Vuhledar is located southwest of Donetsk city, while Lyman is located approximately 125 miles to the north and is situated northeast of Sloviansk. Conflict has been ongoing in Donetsk for months, with Russian and Ukrainian forces vying for control of the region.

Kyrylenko reported that shelling had caused damage to civilian infrastructure and buildings, such as homes and outbuildings. CNBC was not able to confirm the accuracy of the information in Kyrylenko's post.

The operator of Ukraine's state power grid has reported that there is still a considerable lack of electricity in the nation's power system. This is due to the recent drone strikes that occurred at the beginning of the week, which caused further disruption to the power supply in the Kyiv area.

Ukrenergo reported on Telegram that, as of the morning of December 21, the power system is still facing a major power shortage and damage to main networks due to systematic missile and drone attacks has caused restrictions. As a result, consumption limits have been imposed on all areas and if these limits are exceeded, emergency restrictions will be put in place.

The circumstances in the central area, especially in Kyiv, remain challenging.

Ukrenergo reported that Russian forces had bombarded de-occupied regions in the east and south with artillery, leading to damage to the power grids. The company stated that they were doing their best to restore power and fix the destruction.

The Russian government expressed their doubts that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington on Wednesday would yield any positive results. Additionally, they stated that they did not anticipate any peace negotiations with Kyiv.

During a conversation with reporters, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, expressed his concern that if Western countries continue to provide arms to Ukraine, it could lead to a further escalation of the conflict, which could have negative repercussions for Kyiv.

According to Peskov, the supply of weapons is ongoing and the types of weapons being supplied is increasing, which is only making the conflict worse. This is not a positive development for Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders for his first international visit since Russia deployed tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February.

When questioned if Moscow had any hopes that something beneficial could result from Zelenskiy's journey, Peskov replied: "No".

During his visit, the United States is expected to give the green light to the delivery of sophisticated Patriot missile systems to Ukraine as part of a multi-billion dollar package of military aid for Kyiv.

On Wednesday, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made a surprise visit to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During their talks, the two leaders discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and ways to strengthen the relationship between their two countries.

At a recent meeting, Medvedev, the chairman of the United Russia party, discussed cooperation between China and Russia. This included economic and industrial production, as well as international issues such as the conflict in Ukraine. He stated that the talks were useful.

In a statement regarding the talks, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that the relationship between China and Russia has remained strong and healthy over the past decade, despite the changing international landscape.

China has expressed its willingness to collaborate with Russia to further strengthen the China-Russia relationship in the modern era and to work together to advance global governance in a more equitable and rational direction, according to a statement released by state media and translated by NBC.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, China's President Xi stated that the country has always taken an impartial stance and has been actively encouraging peaceful negotiations. He expressed his hope that all parties involved will remain level-headed and work together to address their shared security concerns through diplomatic means.

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense reported on Wednesday that Russian forces have made progress towards the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk, yet they are likely to face difficulty when engaging in combat in the more populated areas of the city.

In the last seven days, the Russian military and their Wagner proxy forces have made some progress on the eastern side of the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut, according to the ministry's most recent intelligence update on Twitter.

The U.K. reported that Russian infantry has likely gained a presence in the eastern industrial parts of the town, and have even ventured into the residential district. It is said that street fighting is still occurring.

Since June, there has been a great deal of conflict in the vicinity of Bakhmut. The United Kingdom has observed that the majority of the fighting has been in the open areas near the eastern side of the city.

The government declared that the dispute in Ukraine has not been characterized by "battles in populated areas" since the Russian incursions into Lysychansk and Severodonetsk in July.

FIBUA requires a high level of expertise from infantry and strong leadership from junior officers, making it difficult for Wagner fighters and Russian army reservists to succeed in this type of combat.

On Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine will be making his first international trip since the conflict began in February. He will be visiting Washington for the occasion.

On Wednesday afternoon, President Joe Biden will be hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House for an extended meeting. Additionally, Zelenskyy will be delivering a speech to Congress and having other bilateral meetings.

A high-ranking government official informed the press that President Biden will be unveiling a package of almost $2 billion in security aid for Ukraine, which will include a Patriot missile system. Russia cautioned the United States against sending the missile defense system to Ukraine.

On Wednesday, President Zelenskyy tweeted that the upcoming meeting would be centered around increasing the strength and defensive abilities of Ukraine.

When questioned about the timing of the visit and the safety considerations for President Zelenskyy to leave Ukraine, a high-ranking official from the U.S. government stated that they had consulted with Zelenskyy on the security measures necessary for him to travel to the U.S. for a brief period of time and then return to Ukraine after a short stay.

The official stated that the leader has made his own decisions regarding his travels based on what he believes will be most beneficial for his people. This same thought process was applied when it came to his visit to the United States. He believes that this will help the struggle in Ukraine, and they are determined to show a strong sense of solidarity and determination from the White House and Washington.

Security personnel from the White House and Congress were preparing for a potential visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, according to five sources familiar with the planning who spoke to NBC News.

U.S. Capitol Police, State Department agents, and emergency management personnel have been making preparations for the potential visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As he is currently facing Russian aggression in his homeland, it is possible that he will address Congress during a joint session in the House chamber.

The security situation is causing plans to be adjusted accordingly. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House from California, confirmed to NBC News that she had extended an invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Washington D.C., but she did not specify whether or not he would be attending.

Ukraine's state electric company reported that many areas near Kyiv have been hit with power outages as a result of Russian shelling and drone strikes on Monday night.

The company stated in an update on their Facebook page that in the capital, less than half of the consumption needs are being met, with priority given to the critical infrastructure supply.

The company stated that they anticipate that today they will be able to activate certain machinery that will help to slightly enhance the power reliability, reduce the power shortage in the capital's power hub, and provide electricity to more customers, as reported by NBC News.

The International Rescue Center (IRC) reported that over a quarter of those affected by the war in Russia are not able to obtain adequate heating as the region's harsh winter season begins.

The International Rescue Committee reported that a significant majority of the homes in Ukraine have been damaged as a result of shelling from Russia. Specifically, 61.3% of the homes have been affected.

Michael Despines, the regional director for Ukraine for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), noted in a statement that people's ability to endure the cold is further weakened by the destruction and breakdown of essential infrastructure, the absence of heating and electricity, and the psychological distress of living in a place that is constantly under bombardment.

Despines expressed deep concern that the combination of factors could cause a drastic decline in the humanitarian situation, resulting in more displacement and making those who remain even more vulnerable.

According to Despines, the constant shelling has made it difficult to fix individual homes and shelters. He also noted that IRC teams are committed to staying and providing aid, despite power outages and frigid winter temperatures.

During a surprise visit to the frontline city of Bakhmut, which has been under heavy Russian shelling for weeks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the armed forces fighting there.

President Zelenskyy expressed on his Telegram channel that the East is standing strong due to the defense of Bakhmut. He noted that many lives have been lost in the fight for freedom, but the morale of the people is being held up by this fortress.

President Zelenskyy expressed his admiration for the Bakhmut defenders, saying, "They are superhumans and our strength and heroes. That's why I am here today to show my support and gratitude for all they do."

The nation's capital is getting ready for a potential visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while an explosion has occurred on a Russian gas pipeline that supplies Europe.