December 12, 2023 - Zelensky meets with Biden and lawmakers in push for more Ukraine aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Washington on Tuesday to make an in-person plea for the military and economic aid he said is necessary to continue Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion.

Zelensky, visiting Washington for the third time since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, met with members of Congress Tuesday morning and President Joe Biden.

The visit also comes as a deal for a supplemental funding package that includes crucial aid for the war-torn country remains logjammed by congressional Republicans who want the Biden administration to make concessions on border security and immigration policy in exchange for the aid package.

A deal remains unlikely with a holiday recess looming.

Here are key takeaways from Zelensky’s day in the nation’s capital:

Biden says US will support Ukraine “as long as we can”: During a joint news conference with the Ukrainian leader Tuesday, Biden vowed the US will support Ukraine for “as long as we can.”

The comment represented a subtle but noteworthy shift in public messaging from the president, who previously said the US will support the country in its defense against the Russian invasion for “as long as it takes.”

Biden’s comments could represent a more pragmatic view from the president on the future of Ukraine aid, with time — and potentially political will — running out before Congress breaks for the holidays to pass more funding, and with future security assistance uncertain under a potential new presidential administration.

Months ago, Biden vowed the country’s “commitment to Ukraine will not weaken.”

Zelensky tells senators he expects US to come through for Ukraine: Earlier in the day, Zelensky told senators that he’s still counting on US support to come through for his nation, according to Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

The questions from senators were mostly about accountability for US aid and Zelensky tried to assure senators that no money would be used corruptly in Ukraine, according to GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota.

In a social media post following the meeting, Zelensky described the conversation as “friendly and candid” and thanked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell “for their personal leadership in rallying bipartisan support for Ukraine among U.S. legislators.”

Some Republicans who attended that meeting said they remained unmoved after hearing Zelensky’s request for assistance, insisting Biden still needed to bargain.

Johnson says White House response “insufficient”: Following a roughly 30-minute meeting with Zelensky – their first one-on-one encounter – House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Biden administration’s response to congressional Republicans’ demands has been “insufficient,” and reiterated his stance that a deal remains unlikely without a “transformative change” at the border.

Biden releases $200 million in Ukraine funding: Speaking to reporters during a meeting with Zelensky in the Oval Office, Biden announced he would be releasing $200 million in funding already approved by Congress to help Ukraine with its defensive needs.

While that’s a small fraction of the $60 billion sought by Biden for Ukraine in his supplemental funding request, the funds will be released shortly, the president said.

Read more about Zelensky’s trip to Washington

Vice President Kamala Harris met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday to discuss the White House’s support of “Ukraine’s security and people,” according to a White House readout.

In their meeting, the leaders discussed Ukraine’s “efforts to advance economic recovery.” 

They also talked about the importance of “continued international support” of Ukraine and how to sustain the “morale of the Ukrainian people,” the readout said.

“The leaders agreed on the importance of continued international support to sustain the morale of the Ukrainian people, who must know that they are not alone as they defend their country against Russian aggression,” the readout said.

Both United States President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed back against the assertion that Ukraine’s counteroffensive is stalling, providing examples of successes on the battlefield.

Biden first reiterated a figure mentioned earlier in the joint news conference by Zelensky: that Ukraine has taken back 50% of the territories seized by Russia. He also pointed to Ukraine’s move to push back the Russian navy so it could export grain in the Black Sea.

Zelensky’s talks in Washington come at a critical moment, as the White House warns American aid to Ukraine could imminently dry up and talks over new assistance are stalled in Congress.

Zelensky, speaking Ukrainian, said the successes on the battlefield were “not an easy success,” but his country has made “serious steps forward.”

“Yes, we had a lot of problems, but nonetheless, we were able to do this. Moreover, Russia was not able to stay (in) any part of our territory, any village, any town,” Zelensky said, according to a translator.

He clarified that this doesn’t necessarily apply to big cities, but assured that they had a clear plan to move forward. He declined to give details of those plans publicly.

Biden also said that it was because of bipartisan support from more than 50 countries that Ukraine was able to accomplish these things.

“We need to ensure Putin continues to fail in Ukraine and Ukraine to succeed and the best way for that… to do that is to pass the supplement,” Biden said, referring to additional funding that is stalled in Congress.

US President Joe Biden has long vowed American support for Ukraine will persist “as long as it takes.”

But on Tuesday, Biden appeared to revise that commitment, saying in a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the US would “continue to supply Ukraine with critical weapons and equipment as long as we can.”

It was a shift that reflected the major headwinds in approving new American assistance to Ukraine. After Zelensky’s meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, it appeared no clearer that new aid would be forthcoming before the end of the year.

Opening his news conference, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin was “banking on the United States failing to deliver” new aid, and said American divisions on providing new aid was playing into Russia’s hands. 

“We must, we must, we must prove him wrong,” Biden said.

He noted the host of a Russian state television program had praised Republicans for blocking the passage of new Ukraine aid last week.

“If you’re being celebrated by Russian propagandists, it might be time to rethink what you’re doing,” Biden said. 

Biden later defined US expectations for Ukraine as the war approaches the end of its second year. 

“We want to see Ukraine win the war,” Biden said. “Winning means Ukraine is a sovereign, independent nation. And it can afford to defend itself today and deter further aggression. That’s our objective.”

CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed reporting to this post.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined his country’s goals going into 2024 during remarks from the White House Tuesday.

“Today, President Biden and I discussed how to increase our strengths” for next year, he said, and noted three elements.

First, Zelensky noted air defense and efforts to destroy Russian logistics on Ukraine’s land. “We aim to win the air battle, crushing Russian air dominance,” he said, adding that “who controls the skies controls the war’s duration.”

Second, Zelensky said that he met with an American defense company. He said he received advice on how to make Ukraine’s defense industry work faster and more effectively. “Together, Ukraine and America can transform democracy’s arsenal,” he said.

Third, Zelensky said he informed Biden that Ukraine has “fulfilled all the recommendations from the European Commission” in preparation to negotiate his country’s ascension to the European Union.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a thankful message of unity at a joint news conference Tuesday with United States President Joe Biden.

The Ukrainian president said he was glad to have the invitation to come to Washington, DC, to convey to Biden what his country has achieved in its fight against Russia.

“We’ve already made significant progress. We’ve shown that our partnership is stronger than any Russian hostility,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine has freed 50% of the territories Russia occupied.

He pointed out that Ukrainian soldiers have been “defending freedom” for nearly two years and “thanks to Ukraine’s success in defense, other European nations are safe from the Russian aggression unlike in the past.”

“We stand firm, no matter what Putin tries. He hasn’t won any victory,” the Ukrainian president added.

President Joe Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is counting on the US to fail to provide support to Ukraine during remarks at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House Tuesday.

“We’ll continue to supply Ukraine with critical weapons and equipment as long as we can; including $200 million I just approved today” in weapons and military aid, Biden said, but added that supplemental funding is needed to continue US support.

“Without supplemental funding, we’re rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond in the urgent operational demands that it has. Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must, we must, we must, prove him wrong,” Biden said, urging the US Congress to pass funding to assist Ukraine.

United States President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are holding a joint news conference.

The Ukrainian president is in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. He held meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and with Biden at the White House.

Zelensky is advocating for more US funding for Ukraine as it fights its war against Russia, though Congress appears to be no closer to a deal that would provide additional aid.

This is Zelensky’s third trip to Washington since the war began.

During a meeting US President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the goal is to “take away Russian superiority and disrupt its offensive operations” in 2024.

Zelensky said that another aim of his is “to boost the development of the arsenals of democracy” of Ukraine with the help of American weapons. He said he would like to discuss speeding up the weapon co-production with his American counterpart. 

“Thanks to all the workers, engineers, managers who build the strength of American weapons helping Ukraine boost the development of arsenals of democracy. President Biden agreed, and we spoke about it in September to join weapon co-production, it is very important for us,” Zelensky said during the meeting Tuesday in the Oval Office.

The Ukrainian president also noted that his forces are “advancing” on the battlefield and highlighted Ukraine’s success in the Black Sea.

“We’ve successfully defeated Russia in the Black Sea and Russia is hiding its… the remains of its fleet in remote bays. Meanwhile, Ukraine has set up an export corridor in the Black Sea that is really boosting our economy and food security,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s economic growth is “almost at 5%” at the moment. 

Zelensky said his country is “gradually becoming less dependent on aid, and we are moving in the right direction.” He said he wanted to discuss with Biden how to continue to strengthen Ukrainian capabilities “especially enhancing our air defense and ability to destroy Russia’s logistics.”

US President Joe Biden said Tuesday that if Congress fails to pass Ukraine-Israel aid package it would give Russian President Vladimir Putin “the greatest Christmas gift.”

“Congress needs to pass supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess, before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him,” Biden said in the Oval Office alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.  

The president also announced an additional $200 million in drawdown funds for Ukraine. Zelensky is meeting with Biden after he met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for more aid as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues.

This is Zelensky’s third trip to Washington since the war began, he visited in September and met at that time with Biden in the Oval Office as well. Biden told Zelensky “it’s great to be at your side once again, we’re going to stay on your side.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at the White House to meet President Joe Biden to push for more funding to Ukraine as Russia continues its invasion.

Earlier today, he met US lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Russia has lost a staggering 87 percent of the total number of active-duty ground troops it had prior to launching its invasion of Ukraine and two-thirds of its pre-invasion tanks, a source familiar with a declassified US intelligence assessment provided to Congress told CNN.

Still, despite heavy losses of men and equipment, Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to push forward as the war approaches its two-year anniversary early next year, and US officials are warning that Ukraine remains deeply vulnerable. A highly anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive stagnated through the fall, and US officials believe that Kyiv is unlikely to make any major gains over the coming months.

The assessment, sent to Capitol Hill on Monday, comes as some Republicans have balked at the US providing additional funding for Ukraine and the Biden administration has launched a full-court press to try to get supplemental funding through Congress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington on Tuesday, meeting with US lawmakers and President Joe Biden in desperate bid to secure the military and economic aid he says is vital to Ukraine’s ability to maintain the fight against Russia.

Russia has been able to keep its war effort going despite the heavy losses by relaxing recruitment standards and dipping into Soviet-era stockpiles of older equipment. Still, the assessment found that the war has “sharply set back 15 years of Russian effort to modernize its ground force.”

Of the 360,000 troops that entered Ukraine, including contract and conscript personnel, Russia has lost 315,000 on the battlefield, according to the assessment. 2,200 of 3,500 tanks have been lost, according to the assessment. 4,400 of 13,600 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers have also been destroyed, a 32 percent loss rate.

“As of late November, Russia lost over a quarter of its pre-invasion stockpiles of ground forces equipment,” the assessment reads. “This has reduced the complexity and scale of Russian offensive operations, which have failed to make major gains in Ukraine since early 2022.”

CNN has reached out to the Russian Embassy in Washington for comment.

Read more about the assessment.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had a “good” meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday — but remained firm in his stance that the US needs to address the border first before advancing on an aid bill.

“From the very beginning, when I was handed the gavel, we needed clarity on what we’re doing in Ukraine and how we’ll have proper oversight of the spending of precious taxpayer dollars, and we needed a transformative change at the border. Thus far we’ve gotten neither,” Johnson said, calling the border an “absolute catastrophe.”

Johnson insisted the White House has not been able to articulate a clear strategy that helps Ukraine win, and slammed the Senate for being “MIA.”

“The House passed HR 2 six months ago, more than six months ago. It’s been sitting and collecting dust on Chuck Schumer’s desk,” he added. “It is not the House’s issue right now. The issue is with the White House and the Senate, and I implore them to do their job because the time is urgent.”

He did not take any questions from reporters following the roughly 30-minute meeting with Zelensky, which was their first one-on-one meeting. 

In his own floor remarks following a nearly 90-minute meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell echoed Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in the need for urgent funding for Ukraine, but still insisted that it be part of a larger package that includes border security policy changes. McConnell said he’s “going to work to get it done as long as it takes.” 

“I’ve been a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s fight to take back its land, liberate its people and restore its support, restore its sovereignty since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, way back in 2014,” he said. “Our Ukrainian friends’ cause is just, and if the West continues to stand with them, they can win.”

But McConnell stood firm that without changes in border policy as part of a supplemental package, the financial support will not come. 

“We know the threats we face are intertwined — that Russia and China and North Korea work together to undermine America and the West. We know that our border, just like Ukraine’s borders and Israel’s and Taiwan’s, must be inviolable. That’s why for months now, we’ve supported supplemental action on all four of the most pressing national security challenges we face,” he said.

“My support for Ukraine and Israel is rock solid. I’m committed to preparing the US military to deter and defend against Chinese aggression. I’m determined to get the national security crisis at the southern border under control, and I’m going to work to get it done as long as it takes,” he said.

Senators emerging from the briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he did not offer suggestions or push back against calls for border security in the United States, carefully avoiding wading into what has become a major domestic policy sticking point in the US. Instead, Zelensky focused on laying out why US aid was so essential for Ukraine.

Here’s what Republican senators are saying:

Sen. Lindsey Graham: Graham said he made it clear to Zelensky that the holdup on Ukraine aid had nothing to do with Zelensky not underscoring the importance of the aid, but instead with the thorny border issue. 

“I told President Zelensky my number one obligation is to secure my country as well as help yours, and I feel like my country’s border policies are an immediate threat to the safety of the American people,” he told reporters. “I said, ‘You’ve done anything that anybody could ask of you. This is not your problem here.’”

Sen. Mike Rounds: Rounds said Zelensky “stayed totally away from” the immigration debate, “as he should have.”

“He was there to explain their need, what their plans were, what their objectives were and assure … us there would be no acceptance of corruption in the deployment of any of the U.S. resources made available,” Rounds said, adding Zelensky went into details on the challenges in reclaiming the southern area of Ukraine from Russia and that his country was “very, very short of the needed air defense systems.”

Sen. Markwayne Mullin said Zelensky kept the discussion at “a high level,” adding that the Ukrainian president “was very respectful.” Mullin said he supports aid to Ukraine but wants it tied to tougher border policies.

Sen. Ron Johnson said Zelensky warned that his country would not give up fighting if support eroded and argued the fight would devolve into guerrilla warfare. 

Meanwhile in the House chamber, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Republican from Massachusetts, said on CNN Max he believes it is Trump who sapped GOP support for Ukraine aid.

“The real problem Republicans have is that Donald Trump is a Putin sympathizer and he has unfortunately galvanized the MAGA base against Ukraine. So when Republicans talk about auditing and inspection and fiduciary responsibility, when they talk about nothing for Ukraine without the southern border, what they’re really saying is we don’t want Donald Trump to tweet something mean about it,” he told CNN’s Jim Sciutto.

CNN’s Jim Sciutto contributed reporting to this post.

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters “not at all” when asked if there had been any changes to his approach on aid to Ukraine, ahead of his first one-on-one meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

Johnson has said that any future aid to Ukraine should also include border security and should be voted on separately from aid to Israel, which has led to an impasse with the Democrat-controlled Senate.

President Joe Biden’s administration slapped sanctions on more than 250 people and companies for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on more than 150 targets connected to Russia’s military industrial base. At the same time, the US State Department went after more than 100 targets accused of sanctions evasion “and bolstering Russia’s future energy production and export capacity,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The new rounds of sanctions target companies and people based in third countries, including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and China.

They were announced following a virtual meeting of the G7 leaders last week, and as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington, DC, to push Congress to pass additional funding to support Kyiv.

“The United States and its allies and partners are united in our continued support of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal war,” Blinken said in his statement Tuesday. “We will continue to use the tools at our disposal to promote accountability for Russia’s crimes in Ukraine and those who finance and support Russia’s war machine.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky worked to dissuade senators that corruption remains a significant problem in his country and is a reason for them not to provide US funds to Ukraine, according to two senators who attended the meeting.

“I think the notion of corruption came up because some have said we can’t do it, because people will buy yachts with the money. He disabused people of those notions with the reforms that he’s made out the (International Monetary Fund) and (European Union). There have been substantial reforms,” North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said.

Zelensky tried to assure senators that no money would be used corruptly in Ukraine, according to South Dakota GOP Sen. Mike Rounds, adding that the Ukrainian president did not give a price tag on how much US support will be needed in total for Ukraine. But he tried to impress upon senators that Ukraine needed more air defense systems quickly to shut off a land bridge into Crimea.

Tillis also said Zelensky was warmly received and spent his time trying to persuade senators to provide more funding and did not press them about the political standoff in Washington, DC, about whether to add border policy changes to the funding bill for Ukraine. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday was “very powerful.”

Zelensky “outlined in great detail” what Ukraine needs and how the United States can assist the country in defending itself against Russia, Schumer said.

“If he gets the help he needs, he will win,” Schumer said. “If we lose, Putin wins, and this is very, very dangerous for the United States.”

Zelensky also said Ukraine needs the aid quickly, according to the Democratic senator from New York.

Before Schumer made extended remarks, Schumer, McConnell and Zelensky walked by reporters, and Schumer said it was a “very good and productive meeting,” but the trio kept walking and did not say anything else. Schumer then returned to speak with reporters.

Schumer later added, “If Ukraine falls, it will be a historic and colossal tragedy. If Russia is victorious, future generations will remember this as a moment of shame for the west, for the United States, and for those in the Senate who sought to block it.”

He said Democrats were willing to “meet in the middle” with Republicans on border security reform, but that the House-passed border bill was not an option.

“It is not a time for one side to demand maximalist fringe policies that they know are unrealistic and then say ‘our way or the highway.’ If Republican colleagues want in agreement on the border, they must meet us at the middle. They need to show us they are serious. So far, when they just asked for HR2 two or something like it, they’re not showing seriousness,” he said.

Schumer said he spoke on the phone with House Speaker Mike Johnson Monday night, urging him to keep the House in town while negotiators work on a comprehensive package, even though any kind of deal does not seem imminent.  

“If Republicans are serious about getting something done on the border, then why are so many of them in such a hurry to leave for the winter break?” he said. “Has the border simply been an excuse to kill funding for Ukraine by Republicans being unwilling to budge on HR2 and getting ready to rush out of town?” 

“Unfortunately, it may seem the case that these are both excuses and they really want to kill funding for Ukraine and never had any intention of passing it,” Schumer said. 

A Ukrainian member of parliament says she is concerned that the world does not understand that a lack of ammunition and aid is leading to a precarious situation for Ukraine.

“I think there is a perception around the world that no matter how much you help or don’t help, Ukraine, Ukrainians are going to win,” Oleksandra Ustinova, also the chair of a temporary special commission set up to handle the flow of military aid into the country, told CNN.

But while Ukraine has managed to survive beyond initial global expectations, Ustinova says the aid deliveries have dwindled and fundamentally changed the landscape for Ukraine.

“We used to shoot 5- (to) 6,000 rounds per day. Russia used to shoot 30 to 40 (thousand). So it was five to eight times more than we could. Right now, we cannot even do 5-6,000 … because there is no ammunition,” she said, adding that in the current scenario, Ukraine can only defend — not launch counteroffensives.

Ustinova added that air defense is a critical concern amid signs Russia is already stepping up aerial attacks. Over the past five days, Ukraine has managed to intercept two major missile barrages, both targeting the capital Kyiv, ending what the head of that city’s military administration described as a 79-day pause.  

“The number one priority for Ukraine is the air defense munition, the air defense systems, because so far we have only Kyiv covered — and not totally covered, all the other cities are totally empty,” she said, adding that air defense munitions have also been in short supply since before the winter.

“Kyiv can be turned into the second Mariupol and totally erased. …We’re waiting for a massive attack of hundreds of drones then following the hundreds of missiles, and if there is nothing to put them down with, that’s it. We’re done,” she added.

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with US lawmakers and President Joe Biden on Tuesday, Russia has continued strikes in the southern Kherson and eastern Kharkiv regions of Ukraine. A suspected cyberattack on Ukraine’s largest mobile operator also disrupted communications and internet access for millions of users, according to officials.

In Kherson: One person died and four were injured in heavy Russian attacks on the Kherson region, according to the head of the regional military administration Tuesday.

Over the last 24 hours, Russia attacked the region 125 times by launching nearly 600 shells from mortars, Grad rocket launchers, artillery, tanks, drones and aircraft, according to a Telegram post from Oleksandr Prokudin. The city of Kherson was shelled 43 times, Prokudin said.

Residential buildings were hit, including a dormitory and an administrative building in Kherson, he said.

In the early hours of Tuesday, 15 Shahed drones were launched from Crimea, with nine being destroyed by Ukrainian Defense Forces, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

In Kharkiv: One person was killed and one injured following Russian shelling in the Kharkiv region, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the regional military administration.

A 73-year-old civilian man died as a result of “hostile artillery shelling” in Kupiansk, Syniehubov said. Another 79-year-old local resident was hospitalized due to “shrapnel wounds,” Syniehubov said.  

Suspected hack: Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on Tuesday launched a criminal investigation into the suspected cyberattack on the country’s largest mobile operator and is probing Russian involvement.

“The Security Service of Ukraine has opened a criminal investigation into a cyberattack on one of the national mobile operators Kyivstar,” the SBU said in a statement. “One of the versions currently being investigated by SBU investigators is that Russian special services may be behind the hacker attack,” it added.

The suspected hack disrupted communications and internet access for millions of users, according to mobile operator Kyivstar.

The “powerful hacker attack” caused “a technical failure, which temporarily made our services unavailable: mobile communication and Internet access,” Kyivstar said.

It also affected air raid warning systems in the northern Sumy region as well as banking services, according to authorities. 

Kyivstar had 24.8 million customers at the end of 2022, according to Ukrainian state information agency Ukrinform.

The Kremlin said Tuesday it will be “very closely” monitoring the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington Tuesday.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the potential impact of the meeting, saying that despite the US aid to Ukraine, there has been no significant success on the battlefield.

“It is certainly important for everyone to understand that the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it achieve success on the battlefield,” he said. 

Peskov also reiterated that the meeting will not alter the outcome of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“We understand this process; it cannot change the situation on the battlefield, and it cannot change the progress of the special military operation either,” he added.

Meanwhile, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Zelensky will “beg his masters, the producers of his terrible tragicomic show, not to stop generously sponsoring the Kyiv regime, and to persuade the White House to care about Ukraine more than about the Americans themselves.” 

The United States is releasing newly declassified intelligence that officials say shows the Russian military has continued to suffer heavy losses in the war — but is also determined to continue pushing forward. 

“Since launching its offensive in October, we assess that the Russian military has suffered more than 13,000 casualties along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis and over 220 combat vehicle losses-the equivalent of six maneuver battalions in equipment alone,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson told CNN, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin “still aims to conquer” Ukraine, but its attempt at an offensive has resulted in “no strategic gains.”

It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington to meet President Joe Biden and lawmakers to push for more US aid to Ukraine.

More newly declassified intelligence suggests that “Russia seems to believe that a military deadlock through the winter will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the advantage despite Russian losses and persistent shortages of trained personnel, munitions, and equipment,” Watson said.

“Putin is clearly watching what happens in Congress – and we need Congress to act this month to support Ukraine in its time of need,” Watson added.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the loudest critics of Ukraine in Congress, said the Republican base will revolt if the GOP accepts a deal on Ukraine aid in exchange for border security — an effort that House Speaker Mike Johnson is now pursuing.

“I think it’s so insulting to the American people to pair our border security to Ukraine’s border. That’s completely wrong, our border should come first and foremost,” she told CNN’s Manu Raju.

“It’s all about keep sending money to Ukraine, keep funding a war, keep killing people and our border stays wide open,” she added.

“I’m sure he’s coming (to) beg for money,” Greene said of Zelensky’s visit to the Capitol.

“Washington doesn’t care about finding a path to peace for Ukraine. They just care about funding the war, so they continue funding the military complex. And I think that is pretty sick; I think it’s pretty disgusting,” she added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for talks in Washington on Tuesday at a critical moment, as the White House warns American aid to Ukraine could imminently dry up and talks over new assistance are stalled in Congress.

The eleventh-hour invite from President Joe Biden underscores the urgency in approving the new package, worth tens of billions of dollars, as he and other administration officials are warning the already-approved American aid will be exhausted by year’s end.

Biden has requested around $60 billion in new aid to Ukraine, part of a larger emergency funding package that also includes assistance for Israel and funds for border security. Republicans have sought to use the request as leverage to extract tough new rules limiting migration across the US southern border.

The hope among Biden’s team is that Zelensky can convince lawmakers, and particularly Republicans, of the necessity for more aid to replenish his war chests. Administration officials have long viewed Zelensky as his country’s most effective advocate, and he has spent the 21 months since Russia invaded in February 2022 addressing international parliaments, assemblies, summits and award shows to muster support.

Zelensky made a direct appeal for more security aid on Monday during a speech at the National Defense University in Washington, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeing his “dreams come true” as delays continue in Congress.

“Every one of you here understands what it means for a soldier to wait for munition – waiting for weeks, months, without knowing if support will come at all. Every one of you with command experience knows what it means when instead of moving forward, you’re just watching, waiting for armor or equipment while your enemy is satisfied and preparing for assaults. Any of you with a son or daughter in a combat zone just wouldn’t get it if they were told that protecting lives could wait because there’s a little more debating,” Zelensky said.

“Let me be frank with you, friends: If there’s anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, it’s just Putin and his sick clique. They see their dreams come true when they see the delays or some scandals, and they see freedom to fall when the support of freedom fighters go down,” he said.

But the prospects of success in Washington this week appear slim, with talks at an impasse to link the new Ukraine assistance with a tightening of immigration rules.

Read more about Zelensky’s latest trip to Washington, where Ukraine aid hangs in the balance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden and lawmakers on Capitol Hill during his visit to Washington, DC, on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian leader’s last-minute trip came together late last week, a White House official said. It takes place at a critical moment when further aid for the war-torn country remains stalled on Capitol Hill.

Talk of the trip arose as the Ukrainian president was preparing to travel to Argentina for the inauguration of President Javier Milei over the weekend.

US and Ukrainian officials agreed to move forward with the visit to Washington, DC, since Zelensky would already be in the same hemisphere, giving the White House a chance to show commitment to Ukraine and speak to why that support should continue, the official said. 

“He was eager to come to the United States, and we’re glad to have him at this critical moment,” the official said. “Who is a better advocate for his country than President Zelensky?”

Expected events: Zelensky’s Tuesday visit will start on Capitol Hill where he will meet with lawmakers in the morning. There, he was invited to speak at an all-senators meeting by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a Senate leadership aide said. House Speaker Mike Johnson will also meet with Zelensky, his office said in a statement.

After that, Zelensky will head to the White House for a meeting and news conference with Biden in the afternoon.

The pair will discuss “further defense cooperation” in a series of meetings on Tuesday, the office of the Ukrainian presidency said in a statement Sunday.

Zelensky will focus on “securing unity among the US, Europe, and the rest of the world” on their support of Ukraine’s defense against Russia and “strengthening the international order based on rules and respect for the sovereignty of nations,” the statement read.

Zelensky and Biden will also discuss defensive cooperation efforts for the coming year, including joint projects to produce weapons and air defense systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Washington, DC, on Tuesday after an invitation from President Joe Biden at a “critical time” in the country’s fight against a Russian invasion, the White House said Monday, 

John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, said it was “exactly the right time” for Zelensky to visit, due to not only the “increased activity we’re seeing by the Russian Armed Forces … but also what’s going on Capitol Hill and the argument that the president’s going to be making.” 

Zelensky will meet with lawmakers on Tuesday morning before meetings at the White House. Congress appears no closer to a deal tying immigration and border policy changes to the emergency aid package that will provide funding for Ukraine and Israel before lawmakers leave town for the holidays.

The administration’s proposed $106 billion aid package includes about $60 billion in aid toward Ukraine’s defenses against Russia, with the rest going toward Israel’s war with Hamas, security in Taiwan and funding for operations at the US-Mexico border.

But top Republicans, wary of adding more to the $111 billion the US has already sent to Ukraine, have asked that any further funding be tied to major immigration-related policy changes.

“It’s a chance for the president to get an update from President Zelensky about how things were going on the battlefront, but also to make it very clear to President Zelensky [and] the Ukrainian people that we’re going to continue to support them, particularly at this very difficult time as winter approaches we’re seeing now increased missile and drone attacks by the Russian armed forces against civilian infrastructure,” Kirby said. 

Kirby didn’t directly answer when asked if a new security assistance package would be announced during the visit. He did say that without too many days left in 2023, an announcement for additional assistance will likely come before the end of the month.

CNN’s Kevin Liptak contributed reporting to this post.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a direct appeal for more security aid on Monday during a speech at the National Defense University in Washington, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeing his “dreams come true” as delays continue in Congress.

“Every one of you here understand what it means for a soldier to wait for munition, waiting for weeks, months, without knowing if support will come at all. Every one of you with command experience knows what it means when instead of moving forward, you’re just watching, waiting for armor or equipment while your enemy is satisfied and preparing for assaults,” Zelensky said. 

The Ukrainian president was in Washington, DC, on Monday for his third visit to the United States since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The National Defense University is a Pentagon-funded college at Fort McNair for national security leaders, including American service members and foreign military partners. 

He is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House and lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

During his visit, Zelensky is expected to pitch lawmakers himself on getting more security aid as Congress continues to fight over the inclusion of major policy changes on the southern border in a security supplemental package. 

“Let me be frank with you, friends: If there’s anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, it’s just Putin and his sick clique. They see their dreams come true when they see the delays or some scandals, and they see freedom to fall when the support of freedom fighters go down,” Zelensky said.

Speaking ahead of Zelensky, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made similar comments, urging that America “not flinch in our defense of freedom.” 

“If we do not stand up to the Kremlin’s aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed, and more chaos,” Austin said. “America will be more secure if we stand up to Putin’s increasingly aggressive Russia.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is coming to the United States for meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill Tuesday at a time when Republicans are skeptical of sending more aid to Ukraine.

If Congress leaves town for the holidays without reaching a deal, the White House will have to make tough choices about supplying allies such as Ukraine at the potential expense of United States military readiness. Top Biden administration officials have been sounding the alarm for weeks about funding for Ukraine running dry and the potential consequences.

The administration’s proposed $106 billion aid package includes about $60 billion in aid toward Ukraine’s defenses against Russia, with the rest going toward Israel’s war with Hamas, security in Taiwan and funding for operations at the US-Mexico border.

But top Republicans, wary of adding more to the $111 billion the US has already sent to Ukraine, have asked that any further funding be tied to major immigration-related policy changes.

The president said he was willing to make “significant compromises on the border,” conceding the country’s immigration system is “broken,” but added Ukraine’s needs are too critical to wait. He called out “extreme Republicans” as negotiators remain at a critical impasse over the sticking point issue of border security, saying those Republicans are “playing chicken with our national security.”

“Frankly, I think it’s stunning we got to this point in the first place … Russian forces are committing war crimes — it’s as simple as that,” Biden said.

News of Zelensky’s trip to Washington received pushback from some Republicans in Congress, including Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, who posted on X (formerly Twitter): “In the midst of a historic border crisis, Zelensky will come to Washington and demand that the Congress care more about his border than our own.”

Ukraine said Saturday that Russia launched nearly 100 air attacks across the country in the space of 24 hours, as its first lady warned Ukraine was in “mortal danger” without Western military aid.

“We really need the help,” Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, recently told the BBC of support to Ukraine. “In simple words, we cannot get tired of this situation, because if we do, we die.
“And if the world gets tired, they will simply let us die.”

Russia launched nearly 100 air attacks across Ukraine in the space of 24 hours, officials in Ukraine said over the weekend. The country’s first lady warned Ukraine was in “mortal danger” without Western military aid.

“The enemy launched a total of 28 missiles and 27 airstrikes, firing 59 times from multiple launch rocket systems at Ukrainian military positions and populated areas,” according to a social media post from the Ukrainian General Staff Saturday.

Multiple regions in the east were targeted, including Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk, which have seen some of the most intense fighting.

The strikes come a day after Ukrainian authorities said they intercepted cruise missiles for the first time in nearly 80 days, as Western intelligence assessments warned Russia is likely to expand its bombardment of civilian infrastructure during the winter.

Russian forces shelled Ukraine’s Kherson region alone 62 times, firing more than 300 shells from mortars, artillery, Grad, tanks, UAVs and aircraft, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the region’s military administration.

At least one civilian was killed and another sustained shrapnel wounds after Russian forces dropped an explosive from a drone in the region’s city of Beryslav on Saturday morning, local authorities said Saturday.

Russia has also been pressing hard to capture the eastern city of Avdiivka, where soldiers have described grinding trench warfare.

Read more on Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.

The fate of billions in assistance for Ukraine remains in limbo even as President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to make a crucial pitch to senators and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday.

Zelensky’s visit to Washington — his third since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 — is unlikely to shift a now cemented dynamic in Washington that Republicans, even those that back additional funding for Ukraine, aren’t willing to do more unless Democrats and the White House concede on major policy changes on the US southern border.

It’s a complicated moment for the White House, which has made the case again and again that Zelensky and his country are at a critical inflection point in their fight for Democracy. And yet, President Joe Biden’s administration may not be able to deliver the resources it has promised if a domestic, decades-long fight over immigration doesn’t rapidly yield a breakthrough soon.

Here are some key things to know: