Biden apologizes to Ukraine's Zelensky for months withholding weapons that allowed Russia to make gains

PARIS (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday publicly apologized for the first time to Ukraine for a months-long delay in U.S. military assistance that allowed Russia to battlefield gainswhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for bipartisan support from the United States “as was the case during World War II.”

Speaking in Paris a day after their participation 80th anniversary events of D-Day in Normandy, Biden apologized to the Ukrainian people for the weeks he did not know whether additional aid would be provided, while conservative Republicans in Congress withheld $61 billion. military aid program for Ukraine for six months.

The Democratic president nevertheless insisted that the American people would stand by Ukraine for the long term. “We’re still there. Completely. Thoroughly,” he said.

Zelensky urged all Americans to support his country's defense against the Russian invasion, and he thanked lawmakers for finally coming together to approve the arms package, which allowed Ukraine to stem the Russian advances in recent weeks.

“It is very important that in this unity of the United States of America, all Americans remain with Ukraine as was the case during World War II,” Zelensky said. “How the United States helped save human lives, save Europe. And we count on your continued support to support us side by side.

The United States is by far the largest provider of wartime support to kyiv, and Ukraine is trying to fend off an intense war. Russian offensive in the eastern regions of the country. The push is focused on Ukraine's border regions of Kharkiv and Donetsk, but Ukrainian officials say it could expand as Russia's larger army seeks to press its advantage.

The offensive seeks to exploit kyiv's shortage of ammunition and troops along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line.

The arms shortage came after U.S. military aid was held up in Congress for six months before Biden signed the $61 billion package in April.

The slow delivery of promised Western weapons has long frustrated Zelensky, as has Biden's hesitance to provide more equipment for fear of provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin. This caused tension in their relationship.

The United States will send around $225 million military aid in Ukraine, U.S. officials said Thursday. The latest package includes ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, as well as mortar systems and a series of artillery shells, officials said.

Softening their stance amid Russia's most recent attack and as Ukraine's military reeled, some NATO allies, including the United States, said last week they would allow the Ukraine to use the weapons they deliver to kyiv. carry out limited attacks in Russia.

The move sparked a furious response from the Kremlin, which warned that Europe's biggest conflict since World War II could spiral out of control.

Biden and Zelenskyy were present birthday events of D-Day in Normandy, northern France, on Thursday, alongside European leaders who supported kyiv's efforts in the war. Biden committed “We will not walk away” from Ukraine, drawing a direct link between the struggle to liberate Europe from Nazi domination and the current war against Russian aggression.

Ukraine describes its fight against Kremlin forces as a clash between Western democratic freedom and Russian tyranny. Russia says it is defending itself against a threatening eastward expansion of the NATO military alliance.

In a 20-minute speech Friday to the National Assembly, the lower house of France's parliament, Zelensky drew parallels with the sacrifices made during World War II and his country's current fight.

“This battle is at a crossroads,” Zelensky said. “A moment where we can now write history the way we need to.” Or we can become victims of history as it pleases…our enemy. »

Zelensky, who spoke in Ukrainian, was frequently interrupted by applause and cheers from lawmakers. He drew a standing ovation when he said in French: “Dear France, thank you for standing with us as we defend life. »

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday evening that France would provide Ukraine with its Mirage fighter jet.

Macron is a strong supporter of Ukraine. He said in February that sending Western troops on the ground in Ukraine was a good thing. not “excluded”.

Zelensky began his day of meetings in Paris with an official welcome ceremony at the golden-domed Les Invalides monument, site of Napoleon's tomb.

During the day, Zelensky was scheduled to visit the Nexter weapons factory in Versailles, which manufactures the Caesar self-propelled howitzers that are among the weapons supplied by France to kyiv's forces.

He was also due to meet Macron at the Élysée.

Zelensky's foreign trips are aimed at keeping Ukraine's plight in the public eye, securing more military aid for his fight against the Russian invasion, and securing long-term Western support through bilateral alliances.

France and Ukraine signed a 10-year agreement in February bilateral security agreement. Zelensky has since signed similar bilateral agreements with many European countries.

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This story has been corrected to show that Biden and Zelenskyy attended the D-Day events in Normandy, not Paris.

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Barbara Surk in Nice and Hanna Arhirova in kyiv, Ukraine, contributed.

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Follow AP's coverage of Russia's war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.