Zelensky's U.S. Visit Clouded by Growing Tensions with Trump
Amid rising tension between the Republican Party and Volodymyr Zelensky, the Speaker of the US House, Mike Johnson, has demanded that Ukraine fire its ambassador to Washington.
Johnson's intervention comes after President Zelensky visited an arms factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania - the hometown of President Joe Biden in a key swing state - with several top Democrats.
In a public letter, the top Republican said the visit was "designed to help Democrats" and claimed it amounted to "election interference".
Since his arrival to the US on Sunday, Zelensky has ramped up efforts to persuade the US and other allies to lend more support to Ukraine as it fends off Russian advances.
On Thursday, President Biden announced that the U.S. will send $7.9 billion (£5.9 billion) in military aid to Ukraine, marking a significant increase in support as his presidency approaches its final phase. This aid is part of a larger $61 billion package passed by Congress in April and includes additional Patriot air defense missiles and long-range munitions. The weapons will be expedited through presidential drawdown authority, utilizing existing Pentagon stockpiles for quicker delivery.
Earlier this year, Congressional Republicans had blocked the $61 billion military package for months before eventually approving the legislation in April. As a result, Ukraine experienced a temporary halt in arms supplies during that period. The U.S. remains Ukraine’s largest foreign donor, having provided $56 billion for its defense to date.
Ahead of his visit to the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined three key components of his plan for victory: securing more military aid, pursuing diplomatic efforts to pressure Russia into peace, and holding Moscow accountable for its 2022 invasion. Zelensky had intended to present his proposals to both presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. However, a Trump campaign official confirmed that the Republican nominee would not meet with Zelensky during his U.S. tour this week.
The relationship between Trump and Zelensky has been strained, especially after Trump was impeached in 2019 by the U.S. House for allegedly pressuring the Ukrainian leader to investigate a political rival. Trump has frequently echoed pro-Russian rhetoric regarding the war. At a campaign event on Wednesday, he ridiculed Zelensky, calling him the "greatest salesman on Earth" and accusing him of refusing to negotiate with Moscow. During a rally the day before, Trump also praised Russia's military, remarking that "They beat Hitler, they beat Napoleon – that’s what they do, they fight."
Trump's comments have intensified tensions between Zelensky and the Republican Party, particularly after the Ukrainian leader visited an ammunition factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a key swing state and Biden's hometown.
During the visit, Zelensky appeared with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and several other top Democrats. Speaker Johnson accused the president of taking part in a "partisan campaign event" designed to held Vice-President Kamala Harris' camapign.
Meanwhile, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee had already announced that it would investigate whether Zelensky's trip was an attempt to use a foreign leader to benefit Vice-President Kamala Harris' campaign.
Congressional Republicans blocked the Biden administration's $61bn military package for months earlier this year, before ultimately relenting and passing the legislation in April.
Before that, arms supplies to Ukraine had dried up for several months.
The US has been the largest foreign donor to Ukraine, with $56bn provided for its defence to date.
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