Biden apologizes to Zelensky for congressional blockade on weapons

PARIS (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday publicly apologized for the first time to Ukraine for a month-long congressional delay in U.S. military assistance that allowed Russia to make gains on battlefield.

Biden met in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called for bipartisan U.S. support for the future “as was the case during World War II.”

The day before, the two men had attended ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, during which Biden made common cause between the Allied forces that helped liberate Europe from Nazi Germany and today's efforts today to support Ukraine against the Russian invasion and Zelensky. was greeted with an enthusiastic ovation.

“I apologize for these weeks of not knowing what's going to happen in terms of funding,” Biden said, referring to conservative Republicans in Congress' six-month blockage of a $61 billion military aid package. dollars for Ukraine. The Democratic president nevertheless insisted that the American people stood with Ukraine for the long term. “We're still at it. Completely. Fully,” he said.

The apology — and Zelensky's call for strong support, similar to that of the allied coalition during World War II — served as a reminder that, despite all of Biden's talk of the United States' unwavering commitment to Ukraine , the recalcitrance of Congressional Republicans and the isolationist tendency of American politics. revealed its fragility. And, although it wasn't discussed, the specter of Donald Trump's candidacy loomed over discussions, with the former Republican president and presumptive nominee speaking positively about Russian President Vladimir Putin and raising concerns about Ukraine , who feared that he would ask him to cede territory to end the war. conflict.

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 lives, save Europe. And we count on your continued support to stand with us side by side.”

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

During their meeting, Zelensky shared with Biden a “very frank assessment” of the situation on the ground and the pressure Ukraine continues to face from Russia, particularly in the Donbass region, according to John Kirby, White House national security spokesperson. But thanks to the recent injection of American aid, the Ukrainians were able to “thwart Russian advances”, particularly around Kharkiv.

“The Russians are really at a standstill there,” Kirby said. “Their advance on Kharkiv is virtually over as they encountered the first line of defense of the Ukrainian armed forces and virtually stopped or even withdrew some units.”

The offensive seeks to exploit kyiv's shortage of ammunition and troops along the roughly 620-mile front line.

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 about $225 million in military aid to Ukraine, Biden announced Friday. The latest package includes munitions for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, as well as mortar systems and a series of artillery shells, U.S. officials said Thursday.

A Ukrainian strike on the partially occupied Luhansk region, using American-made ATACMS missiles, killed three people and injured 35 others on Friday, local authorities designated by Moscow said.

Biden framed the additional aid in his meeting with Zelensky as money to “rebuild the power grid” in Ukraine, a reference aides said was additional air defense and missile defense systems in the new package.

Softening their stance amid the most recent Russian attack and with Ukraine's military reeling, some NATO allies, including the United States, said last week they would allow Ukraine to use the weapons they deliver to Kiev to carry out limited attacks inside 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 attended D-Day anniversary events in Normandy, northern France, on Thursday alongside European leaders who supported kyiv's efforts in the war. Biden promised “we will not walk away” from Ukraine, drawing a direct link between the fight to liberate Europe from Nazi rule 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 as we need to. Or we can become victims of history as we see fit…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, I 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. At a news conference Friday following his meeting with Zelensky at the Elysée presidential palace in Paris, Macron said training of pilots and mechanics would begin “immediately,” but declined to specify the number combat aircraft.

France will also train and equip a Ukrainian army brigade representing around 4,500 soldiers, while building a coalition with “partners” to send military instructors to Ukrainian soil to train the country's troops, Macron said.

Macron said other countries had already agreed to participate, without providing details. He said sending Western instructors to Ukraine would not constitute an “escalation” of the conflict.

“It is not a question of deploying European or allied citizens and soldiers to the front line,” Macron said. “It’s about recognizing Ukraine’s sovereignty over its territory.”