On Tuesday, President Joe Biden will welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House as the U.S. government ramps up efforts to convince Congress to provide more assistance to Ukraine in their defensive battle against Russia.

The White House released a statement on Sunday stating that the purpose of the visit is to emphasize the United States’ unwavering dedication to aiding the people of Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s violent invasion.

The office of Zelenskyy verified that he agreed to Biden’s offer. He has also been summoned to address a gathering of all senators.

Biden has proposed a $110 billion plan to provide funding for Ukraine ($61.4 billion) and Israel, as well as other national security initiatives, in response to wartime needs. However, on Wednesday, the bill was blocked by Republican members of the U.S. Senate who believe significant changes to U.S. border security measures are necessary.

Certain members of the Republican party are demanding that undocumented immigrants be swiftly deported, without the opportunity to apply for asylum in the United States. They have also urged for significant reductions in programs implemented by the Biden administration, which have facilitated the lawful entry of hundreds of thousands of migrants into the country.

In less than a week, the U.S. Congress will be taking a holiday recess. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed serious worry about the possibility of U.S. aid not reaching Ukraine in time for the approaching winter season.

On Sunday’s episode of “This Week” on ABC, Blinken stated that the US is facing a shortage of funds for Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. He urged Congress to take action and provide additional funding for Ukraine.

Blinken emphasized the urgency of passing the supplemental budget request in an interview, stating that Ukraine has made remarkable progress in combating Russian aggression by reclaiming half of its territory in the past year.

Blinken mentioned that a significant portion of the aid given to Ukraine is utilized in the United States. He stated that materials, munitions, and weapons produced in America are provided to the Ukrainians.

for failing to implement Sochi agreements

Lavrov accuses Ukraine and the United States of not fulfilling the agreements made in Sochi.

On Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the West is attempting to drain Russia’s resources in Ukraine and that Kyiv must take the first step in any peace negotiations.

Lavrov remarked on the responsibility of Ukrainians to acknowledge the extent of their involvement in the conflict, which was primarily instigated by the Americans.

When inquired about the likelihood of using diplomacy to achieve a cease-fire or peace, he responded, “You will need to contact Mr. [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy as he implemented a decree one and a half years ago that prohibits any discussions with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

According to the daily intelligence update from the British defense ministry, Russia is likely accumulating air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) for deployment during its winter offensive against Ukraine.

According to the ministry, the missiles were utilized on Thursday in a significant series of attacks targeting Kyiv and central Ukraine.

The British government claims that the missiles launched in December were likely intended to damage Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. However, early reports suggest that Ukraine was able to intercept the majority of the missiles. Sadly, one civilian lost their life, according to officials.

Hungarian blockade

On Monday, truck drivers from Hungary intend to obstruct the primary border crossing with Ukraine as a form of protest against Ukrainian carriers who are supplying less expensive goods to the European Union country, causing harm to local commerce.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, truck drivers from Ukraine are not required to obtain permits to enter the EU. However, haulers in eastern Europe have called for limitations on the amount of Ukrainian trucks allowed into the bloc.

Tivadar Arvay, the general secretary of the Hungarian Road Transport Association, informed state news agency MTI that they have requested the EU to reassess their agreement with Ukraine and take into account the concerns of EU carriers, including those of Hungary.

Trucks from Poland are currently stuck for miles at the border between Poland and Ukraine due to Polish truck drivers obstructing the roads leading to three border crossings.

Ukrzaliznytsia, the state railway of Ukraine, announced on Sunday that they were able to circumvent the blockade imposed by Polish truck drivers by using trains to transport the initial group of buses into Poland.

According to Ukrainian officials, approximately 3,500 trucks were stuck at the Polish-Ukrainian border on Sunday morning. Negotiations with the protesters have not yet resulted in a resolution. Similar to Hungarian demonstrators, they are protesting against Ukrainian truckers being able to enter the European Union without permits.

This article includes data from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.

Source: voanews.com