WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is back in Washington, briefing lawmakers about the war effort and meeting with President Joe Biden.
Thursday morning, the White House announced nearly $8 billion worth of more military support for Ukraine.
This will likely be Zelenskyy’s last visit to the U.S. ahead of this fall’s elections.
Billions of dollars have already gone into Ukraine’s war with Russia, but continued support isn’t guaranteed should former president Donald Trump return to the White House.
A growing number of Republicans are skeptical about the money and munitions being sent to Ukraine, and the former president has waffled on whether he would continue to send help, arguing without any details he would “end the war on day one” of his presidency.
Beyond that, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is calling on President Zelenskyy to fire his ambassador to the U.S. after Zelenskyy visited a munitions factory in Pennsylvania this week, calling the visit to a swing state political interference to help Democrats.
In the meantime, Zelenskyy is also expected to push the White House to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons on Russian land.
Since the war’s beginning, the White House has restricted the use of long-range U.S. weapons to hit targets inside Russia, fearing it could escalate the situation.
“He believes if he could shut down those Russian airbases and missile bases that are attacking his country, that would give him leverage. To get Putin to the table. I believe that, too,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Zelenskyy will not be meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson, but he did meet with other Republicans.
