(Washington) Joe Biden on Wednesday promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on a historic visit to the White House, to “continue to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself”, with the commitment of the United States to provide it with their sophisticated Patriot air defense system.
“We will stay with you as long as necessary,” said the American president during a joint press conference with the Ukrainian president.
Joe Biden also said he was “not at all worried” about the strength of the Western alliance in the face of the Russian invasion. “I have never seen NATO or the EU so united,” he said. “Putin thought he would weaken NATO, instead he strengthened NATO.”
Wearing a khaki sweater with the Ukrainian trident, Mr. Zelensky, who had not left his country since the start of the Russian offensive on February 24, for his part expressed his “heartfelt gratitude” for the support of the United States, which amounts to billions of dollars in the military field alone.
The Patriot system that the United States will provide to Kyiv will “significantly” strengthen Ukraine’s defense against Russian strikes, he thanked, seeing it as “a very important step in creating a secure airspace for the Ukrainian”.
PHOTO BULENT KILIC, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
A Patriot air defense system.
“Not an escalation measure”
“It is a defensive system”, for his part underlined the American president. “It’s not an escalation measure, it’s defensive,” he insisted.
President Zelensky hinted that he was going to ask for even more Patriot missiles.
After his meeting with the US President, Mr. Zelensky is to address Congress.
PHOTO BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a gift to Joe Biden, a medal entrusted the day before on the front by a Ukrainian soldier whom he described as a “real hero”.
“Today’s tranche of aid includes for the first time the Patriot air defense system, capable of shooting down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at significantly higher altitudes than systems of defense that had been provided up to then,” declared Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on the occasion of this visit by Mr. Zelensky.
A trip with exceptional security constraints which will only last “a few short hours”, but which is already historic.
New Russian Missiles
Vladimir Putin meanwhile pledged on Wednesday to increase the capabilities of his army and its nuclear potential, while discarding all responsibility for the “common tragedy” in Ukraine.
Speaking during a meeting with high-ranking officers, the Russian president thus announced the entry into service “at the beginning of January” of the new Russian hypersonic cruise missiles Zircon and considered increasing the number of the army. Russian to 1.5 million soldiers.
PHOTO PAVEL BYRKIN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Its Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, at the same time assured that the Russian troops were fighting “the combined forces of the West” and revealed that Moscow intended to install bases to support its fleet in Mariupol and Berdiansk, two occupied cities. from southern Ukraine.
The Kremlin has also warned against new US arms deliveries to Ukraine, which will only “aggravate” the conflict.
Same men, same place
1er September 2021, Volodymyr Zelensky had already been received at the White House by Joe Biden, who had assured him that he would be helped by the United States against Russia.
Wednesday, the same two men, the same place but a completely different historical scope: it is their first meeting in the flesh since Russia attacked Ukraine, making the Ukrainian president a warlord known to the whole world. and Joe Biden the commander-in-chief of the western camp.
American parliamentarians are preparing for their part to vote on a new massive package of support for Ukraine, of nearly 45 billion dollars.
The United States, by far the largest donor to Ukraine, has so far provided, according to expert estimates, nearly $50 billion in aid to the war-torn country, including $20 billion in arms and military assistance. .
The Russian Minister of Defense, for his part, assured while he took stock on Wednesday before some 15,000 military officials by videoconference, that one of the “priorities” for the year 2023 would be to “continue to lead the special operation (in Ukraine) until all its tasks have been fulfilled”.
The armed forces and their combat capabilities “are increasing constantly and every day. And this process, of course, we will develop it,” Vladimir Putin said during this meeting.
Attacks in the East
On the ground, fighting continued Wednesday, with the Ukrainian military reporting Russian attacks, particularly shelling, in the east and northeast.
“The enemy continues to concentrate its efforts on carrying out offensive actions in the directions of Bakhmout (a city that the Russians have been trying to take since the summer, editor’s note) and Avdiivka”, in the east, underlined in the evening the general staff of the Ukrainian forces.
PHOTO LIBKOS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
A building is partially on fire after a Russian attack in Bakhmout.
At least five people have been killed and 17 injured in the past 24 hours, according to the presidency.
After a series of Russian military setbacks in northeastern and southern Ukraine, the bulk of the fighting is now taking place in the east.