Russia-Ukraine WarZelensky Tells Congress ‘You Can Speed Up Our Victory’

Making his first trip outside Ukraine since Russia invaded, Zelensky urged a joint session of Congress to continue support for the defense of his country. Some Republicans skipped his speech.

Key Moments From Zelensky’s Visit to Washington
  1. "You can speed up our victory," President Volodymyr Zelensky told Congress.
  2. "Ukraine holds its lines and will never surrender," Mr. Zelensky told Congress.
  3. "This struggle will define in what world our children and grandchildren will live," Mr. Zelensky said.
  4. Mr. Zelensky brought to Congress a Ukrainian flag from the battlefield.
    Kenny Holston/The New York Times
  5. Mr. Zelensky was given an American flag that flew over the Capitol.
    Kenny Holston/The New York Times
  6. President Biden announced more aid for Ukraine.
  7. "Russia needs to be held accountable," Mr. Zelensky said.
  8. "Russia is using winter as a weapon," Mr. Biden said.
  9. Both Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Biden indicated the war won't end soon.
    Tom Brenner for The New York Times
  10. Mr. Zelensky was greeted with a red carpet at the White House.
    The New York Times
  11. Mr. Zelensky wore military garb to the White House.
    Tom Brenner for The New York Times
  12. The Ukrainian people "inspire the world," Mr. Biden said.
    The New York Times
  13. The two leaders met in the Oval Office.
    Tom Brenner for The New York Times
  14. Mr. Zelensky thanked Mr. Biden for his support.
    The New York Times

Follow live news updates of the Russia-Ukraine war.

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Here are the latest developments.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine capped his visit to Washington by asking Congress to approve nearly $50 billion in additional aid to his country. Swift passage would not only stop Russian influence in the region, but preserve democracy as a whole, he said.

Addressing a joint session of Congress, Mr. Zelensky spoke for roughly 25 minutes, mixing doses of humor with pleas for the future safety and stability of Ukraine. He delivered the speech in English, giving it more impact than if it had been translated from Ukrainian.

“Your money is not charity,” Mr. Zelensky said. “It’s an investment.”

After his speech, which was warmly received by members on both sides of the aisle, Mr. Zelensky presented Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, with a Ukrainian flag that soldiers had signed. Ms. Pelosi gave Mr. Zelensky an American flag that had flown over the Capitol earlier in the day.

Here is what you need to know:

  • After a two-hour meeting at the White House, President Biden told reporters at a joint news conference with Mr. Zelensky that the United States would continue to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”

  • Mr. Zelensky, asked what he would consider a fair way to end the war, said that he would not compromise the sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity of his country. He said Ukraine shared values with the United States and was fighting “for our common victory against this tyranny.”

    “We will win and I really want to win together,” he said.

  • Mr. Biden said Mr. Zelensky’s visit underscored “the need to stand together through 2023,” suggesting the United States doesn’t believe the war will end anytime soon. “The American people have been with you every step of the way, and we will stay with you,” Mr. Biden said.

  • Earlier in the day, the secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, said that the United States was sending Ukraine an additional $1.8 billion in military aid, including a Patriot missile battery, one of its most advanced air defense systems.

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 22, 2022, 12:16 a.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

A dispute over immigration policy delays a bid to pass Ukraine aid in the Senate.

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Congress at a joint session in Washington on Wednesday during a visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine pressed U.S. lawmakers for more aid in his country’s war with Russia on Wednesday evening, the legislation carrying nearly $50 billion in such assistance ground to a halt in the Senate.

Senators left the Capitol on Wednesday night without holding a vote on a broad government funding package containing the Ukraine aid along with a host of other initiatives. An impasse over immigration policy was quickly consuming valuable time if lawmakers are to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the week.

Although the Ukraine aid and the broader package have widespread support in the Senate, to beat the shutdown deadline lawmakers had sought to use a fast-track process that requires the consent of all 100 senators. But before agreeing to an expedited process, several senators demanded the opportunity to vote on a series of amendments in a bid to secure last-minute changes or force politically freighted votes.

The largest sticking point came when Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, demanded a vote on an amendment that would essentially tie some funds for the Department of Homeland Security to the continuation of pandemic-era border restrictions that a majority of Democrats oppose.

But enough Senate Democrats support maintaining the Trump-era policy, which is known as Title 42 and allows the government to expel migrants who cross the southwestern border, that senators and aides believe the amendment would pass. A Senate Democratic aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described the amendment as a poison pill that would prevent its passage in the House as progressive Democrats revolted against its inclusion.

The Biden administration planned to end Title 42 this week after a federal judge ordered that the policy be halted, but the Supreme Court has issued a brief stay keeping the measure in place while it considers the matter. Both the Biden administration and the measure’s opponents fear that its repeal could lead to a surge of migrants at the border.

As talks continued into the night, some Republicans appeared to dig in over their desire for a vote on the amendment.

“I support the omnibus bill — even though the process is broken and it is bigger than it should be — because it meets our national security needs,” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said on Twitter. “However, if the omnibus — which dramatically increases military spending and funds the government — fails because Democrats care more about letting Title 42 lapse than funding the federal government, so be it.”

While talks continued in an effort to break the logjam, senators began leaving the Capitol for the evening around 9 p.m. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, previously said that he would not support a full-year funding package and would vote for only a stopgap bill should the Senate fail to act by Thursday. (It was unclear whether that threat would hold, given that a stopgap bill would not contain the military increases and Ukraine aid he has championed. Asked Wednesday evening, he simply reminded reporters that the deadline he had chosen, Dec. 22, was the next day.)

There is still time for lawmakers to negotiate an agreement to quickly pass the legislation, but senators had hoped to approve it Wednesday as Mr. Zelensky thanked Congress for previous rounds of aid and stressed the importance of continuing assistance to his country in an unusual speech before a joint meeting on Congress.

“He made it clear that without this aid package, the Ukrainians will be in real trouble and could even lose the war,” Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, said of Mr. Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader met privately with congressional leaders. “So that makes the urgency of us getting this legislation done all the more important, and getting it done quickly without flaw.”

Just before midnight, he expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached.

Marc SantoraAnton Troianovski
Dec. 21, 2022, 9:43 p.m. ET

Why the battle for Bakhmut is so important.

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The Ukrainian military in the front line city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, on Sunday.Credit...Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

President Volodymyr Zelensky told Congress that the fight now raging for Bakhmut, in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, could “change the trajectory of our war for independence and for freedom.”

That battle has turned into one of the bloodiest campaigns of the war, and as losses for both sides have mounted, Ukraine’s hold on the ravaged city has taken on a symbolism that outstrips its military significance. There are bumper stickers, artwork and T-shirts in shops across Ukraine with the slogan: “Bakhmut Holds.”

But in Washington on Wednesday, Mr. Zelensky emphasized that holding was not enough. “To ensure Bakhmut is not just a stronghold that holds back the Russian army, but for the Russian army to completely pull out, more cannons and shells are needed,” he said.

Before his trip to Washington to ask for that increased support, Mr. Zelensky made an unannounced visit on Tuesday to Bakhmut to rally the soldiers there. It was perhaps his most daring visit to the front lines since Russia invaded Ukraine, and a demonstration of defiance in the face of Moscow’s ceaseless assault against the ravaged eastern city.

Despite months of Russian bombardments and waves of assault by formations from the Wagner Group, an infamous paramilitary organization that has helped lead the Kremlin’s war effort in parts of Ukraine, the city has remained in Ukrainian control.

The Ukrainian forces holding Bakhmut are from a mix of units, including the 58th Motorized Infantry Brigade, that have been worn down by the nonstop Russian assaults. Other units relocated from southern Ukraine have arrived in recent weeks to bolster the defense of the city.

While Russian forces are digging in and establishing more fortified defensive positions across much of the 600-mile front, they have continued to assault Bakhmut from multiple directions.

Mr. Zelensky’s visit to Bakhmut came as Ukrainian troops say they have pushed Russians out of some positions on the edge of the city, although the situation there is far from stable.

“Last year, 70,000 people lived here in Bakhmut, in this city, and now only a few civilians stay,” Mr. Zelensky told Congress. “Every inch of that land is soaked in blood, roaring guns sound every hour.”

He told Congress that the troops he met with in Bakhmut had given him a Ukrainian battle flag and asked that he bring it to Washington.

“Let this flag stay with you, ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “This flag is a symbol of our victory in this war. We stand, we fight and we will win because we are united — Ukraine, America and the entire free world.”

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:41 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

“This is so important,” said Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, speaking to reporters on the Hill. “The most important thing going on in the world is to beat the Russians in Ukraine. Fortunately they have a leader that everyone can look up to and admire. And also it’s nice to have something here at the end of the year that we all actually agree on.”

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Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:38 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

While the speech was powerful, it doesn’t appear to have moved some of those lawmakers who are adamantly opposed to the aid. Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, a Republican, told us she still believes the American people should not be paying for the war effort.

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Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:25 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

Schumer says he asked Zelensky privately earlier Wednesday what it would mean if Congress failed to pass the aid. “He says it would mean we’d lose the war,” Schumer recounted.

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:23 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, says “I hope those who were doubting that we should aid Ukraine heard his speech loud and clear.”

Michael Crowley
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:05 p.m. ET

Zelensky’s ability to speak fluent English is a huge asset for his nation. A speech like that, passed through a translator, simply can’t carry the same emotional punch.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:05 p.m. ET

That historic image — of Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi hoisting a Ukrainian flag signed by soldiers in the midst of war — had to be exactly what Mr. Zelensky envisioned when he decided to travel to Washington. Whether it will be enough to encourage a divided Congress to approve longterm aid for Ukraine is unclear.

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Credit...Kenny Holston/The New York Times
Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:04 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

Pelosi has now given Zelensky an American flag that flew over the Capitol earlier today.

Carl Hulse
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:04 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

Zelensky closes the speech by saying, “Happy victorious New Year,” drawing loud cheers.

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:03 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

Quite an image there, as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris hold up a Ukrainian flag Zelensky brought from the battlefield.

Julian E. Barnes
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:03 p.m. ET

The decisions of Congress, Zelensky said, can save Ukraine. “Let these decisions be taken,” he says, pivoting from a message of thanks to a plea to approve the new round of nearly $50 billion for Ukraine.

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Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:01 p.m. ET

Zelensky just mentioned the prospect of Russia attacking Ukrainians with drones provided by Iran. The Biden administration has in recent days increasingly criticized Iran for aiding Russia’s invasion.

Michael Crowley
Dec. 21, 2022, 8:00 p.m. ET

It’s amazing to see Zelensky speaking to a U.S. Congress that impeached a president over a 2019 conversation with him.

Annie Karni
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:59 p.m. ET

I just noticed that Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, is sitting with Democrats, not Republicans. She’s sitting next to Representative Elaine Luria, Democrat of Virginia, a fellow member of the Jan. 6 committee.

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:58 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

The spending package does include money for inspectors general to examine how the money is being spent, as well as requirements for reports on the money and its impact. But there is some concern about fatigue over sending so much money, and lawmakers have heard from some constituents who question why that money isn't being spent in the United States.

Michael Crowley
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:57 p.m. ET

Zelensky says that Ukraine handles U.S. aid “in the most responsible way,” an apparent nod to growing concerns about the potential for theft in a country with a long history of endemic corruption.

Julian E. Barnes
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:57 p.m. ET

Zelensky’s push for the next package of aid is a key element of his speech and one of the most important reasons he is in Washington today. “You can speed up our victory,” he says, a potentially strong argument for Republicans undecided about the spending bill before Congress.

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Michael Crowley
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:56 p.m. ET

Zelensky warns that if Russia is not defeated in Ukraine, it is bound to come soon for other U.S. allies in Europe. Many U.S. officials and Russia analysts hold this conviction.

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:55 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

“Your money is not charity,” Zelensky says. “It’s an investment.”

Julian E. Barnes
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:55 p.m. ET

Just as the American Army forces fought in the Battle of the Bulge during the winter of 1944, holding back Hitler's forces, Ukraine, Zelensky said, is doing the same in Christmas 2022, holding back Putin’s forces. History hangs heavily over Ukraine, and both Kyiv and Russia have evoked the mantle of the allied fight in World War II. Putin’s version of history is routinely rejected as false. Judging from the applause, Zelensky’s will be embraced by Congress.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:52 p.m. ET

“We have artillery, yes, thank you. Is it enough? Not really,” Zelensky says as some laugh in the chamber. It’s another moment of candor from Zelensky, who is making clear that he will continue to expect more military resources from the United States as Ukraine prepares for a prolonged fight. Biden has thus far not approved of sending longer-ranged weapon systems to Ukraine.

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:50 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

There is some trepidation about how a Republican-controlled House will handle the aid, as some rank-and-file lawmakers push back against sending more money abroad. But as of now, a notable amount of bipartisan support remains.

Julian E. Barnes
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:49 p.m. ET

Next year will be “a turning point,” Zelensky said, as he argues for continued support for Ukraine. That support will be critical, according to lawmakers. The fight next year is likely to be more difficult for Ukraine, as it seeks to dislodge Russian forces, ever more dug in defensively in the territory they have taken from Kyiv.

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Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:48 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

Zelensky is making an argument I’ve heard Republican and Democratic senators make about the importance of assisting Ukraine: The aid and assistance is not just about helping Ukraine, but protecting democracy writ large and stopping Russian influence.

Carl Hulse
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:47 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

Despite division in their ranks over the financial aid, Republican leaders Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise have been joining in applause for Zelensky and standing along with their colleagues.

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Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
Michael Crowley
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:47 p.m. ET

Awkward moment at the start, when Speaker Pelosi introduces Zelensky as president of “the Ukraine.” That phrase is a vestige of the Cold War, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. It annoys Ukrainians, who know, at the same time, that Pelosi is an important ally of their nation.

Julian E. Barnes
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:45 p.m. ET

Zelensky is crediting American leadership in uniting Europe against Russian aggression. “Europe is now stronger and more independent than ever,” he said. Holding Europe together over the next few months will be a key challenge for the United States, as Russia tries to use high energy prices and cold winter temperatures to break allied will to support Kyiv.

Annie Karni
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:45 p.m. ET

When Zelensky said Ukraine is “alive and kicking,” Andrew Clyde of Georgia did not stand up or clap.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:43 p.m. ET

Zelensky alternated between speaking English and Ukrainian earlier during the joint news briefing with Biden. He starts his remarks in English here, making clear he is there to shore up support in U.S. Congress and the American people.

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:40 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

Many of the lawmakers who snagged those key aisle seats to shake Zelensky’s hand as he entered have either visited Ukraine or have been directly involved in negotiating aid to the war-torn country since Russia invaded.

Annie Karni
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:39 p.m. ET

There are exceptions to the otherwise warm greeting Zelensky has received. Andrew Clyde of Georgia has his hands in his pockets. Boebert and Gaetz are not clapping.

Carl Hulse
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:38 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

A Ukrainian flag is unfurled along the aisle.

Michael Crowley
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:38 p.m. ET

The U.S. public remains supportive of Ukraine, but less so than it was several months ago. A recent Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll found that about two-thirds of Americans favor continuing military and economic aid, though less than half of them support continuing current levels of support indefinitely. A growing number, nearly half, favor pressuring Ukraine to settle for peace as soon as possible.

Carl Hulse
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:37 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

Rousing cheers for Zelensky as he enters the chamber.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:37 p.m. ET

Both Biden and Zelensky indicated in their joint news briefing that they do not see an end to the war coming soon. In this address to Congress, Zelensky — as he did in the news briefing — will likely rather emphasize the need for U.S. financial and military support as they continue to defend against Putin’s invasion. I’m curious if he’ll directly or indirectly respond to some House Republicans who have said they will not continue to give a “blank check” to Ukraine.

Annie Karni
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:36 p.m. ET

I’m keeping an eye on Republicans who have vocally opposed aiding Ukraine, and whether they’re here. I now see that Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, who also voted against the $40 billion Ukraine aid package in May, is here, too, standing in the back of the chamber next to a fellow critic of Ukraine aid and “no” vote on that bill, Representative Andrew Clyde of Georgia. Not in the chamber tonight: Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, another “America First” conservative who is strongly opposed to sending more aid to Ukraine.

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:34 p.m. ET

Reporting from Washington

There’s some hope that the speech from Zelensky will help facilitate an agreement for the Senate to expedite passage of the spending package that contains nearly $50 billion for Ukraine. Bipartisan support for the aid or the broader package is not in question, but all 100 senators have not yet agreed to speed up the process.

Michael Crowley
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:32 p.m. ET

It’s not quite September 2001, and there are some dissenters, but it’s still hard to think of another time when Congress was so visibly unified around a national security priority.

Julian E. Barnes
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:31 p.m. ET

Avril D. Haines, director of national intelligence, has joined the cabinet members in the chamber. The U.S. intelligence support to Ukraine has been critical in helping Kyiv shape its counteroffensives in recent months.

Annie Karni
Dec. 21, 2022, 7:18 p.m. ET

Some Republicans are skipping Zelensky’s address.

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Representative Ralph Norman, Republican of South Carolina, said he would not attend a joint session of Congress for the speech given by President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.Credit...Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times

When President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine addressed a joint session of Congress this evening, he spoke to a crowd that included some Republicans who have been vocally opposed to sending more aid to his country.

Others said they were skipping the historic event altogether.

Representative Ralph Norman, Republican of South Carolina and a member of the far right Freedom Caucus, told Politico he was not planning to attend the speech because Mr. Zelensky could not say anything that would change his views on providing more funding for Ukraine. Mr. Norman was one of 57 House Republicans who voted against a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine in May and he is opposing an omnibus bill that includes more than $44 billion in aid to Ukraine.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, who has been vocally opposed to sending more aid to Ukraine, also did not attend the speech. And Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, and Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, who have questioned the need for more aid, did not appear to be in attendance.

Representative Mike Garcia, Republican of California, tweeted Wednesday ahead of Mr. Zelensky’s visit that “more Americans have died from fentanyl coming thru our southern border than Ukrainians at the hands of Russians this year. Imagine a nation where POTUS protects his own.”

Despite that tweet, a spokesman for the congressman said he planned to attend.

Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, and Representative Lauren Boebert, Republican of Colorado, both vocal opponents of sending more aid to Ukraine, were seated together in the House chamber ahead of Mr. Zelensky’s speech. Also in attendance were Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California and the top House Republican, and Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, who said last spring he could not support more money going to Ukraine when the United States endured a baby formula shortage.

Mr. McCarthy voted for the aid package in May but has since signaled that a Republican-controlled House of Representatives would make it more difficult for President Biden to continue sending aid abroad. Mr. McCarthy is also trying to secure the votes he needs to become House speaker, which includes support from the party’s more extreme members who have adopted former President Donald J. Trump’s “America First” position.

Representative Andrew Clyde, Republican of Georgia, who voted against the $40 billion aid package in May, attended the speech but notably sat through all of the standing ovations for Mr. Zelensky.

Michael Crowley
Dec. 21, 2022, 6:56 p.m. ET

Biden officials are talking to Congress about declaring Russia an ‘aggressor state.’

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The village of Kamyanka in the Kharkiv region on Wednesday, which was occupied by the Russian military from March until September.Credit...Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

The Biden administration is working with Congress to officially declare Russia an “aggressor state,” a move that would avert a more serious drive to label Moscow a “state sponsor of terrorism,” which the administration opposes.

Ukraine’s leaders and senior members of the U.S. Congress have for months called for Russia to be added to the official State Department list of nations designated as “state sponsors of terrorism,” in what they call a fitting response to Moscow’s brutal campaign against Ukraine.

But the Biden administration opposes the move. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said in September that such an action “could have unintended consequences to Ukraine and the world” and that the president did not support it.

On Wednesday, a State Department spokesman said that Biden officials were working with Congress to craft legislation naming Russia as an “aggressor state,” a potential middle-ground action with less draconian impact that could prevent a political showdown between the White House and Congress. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss pending legislation.

A Tuesday report in The Hill newspaper said that some officials hoped to have the legislation ready ahead of Wednesday’s speech by the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyto a joint session of Congress. Mr. Zelensky has asked the more severe terrorism designation be applied to Russia.

The U.S. list of terrorism sponsors includes only three countries: North Korea, Iran and Cuba. The designation automatically triggers harsh sanctions, which in some cases go beyond those the U.S. has imposed on Russia, including ones that target third countries that deal with the designated state.

U.S. officials also appear reluctant to conflate military operations, however brutal, with a more traditional notion of nonstate terrorism. Iran, Cuba and North Korea are all accused of aiding or harboring terrorists not formally affiliated with their governments.

Biden officials have said the terrorism designation could, for instance, jeopardize the Western delivery of humanitarian assistance to some areas of Ukraine, and complicate an agreement with Russia that allows food shipments from Ukrainian ports.

Andrew E. Kramer
Dec. 21, 2022, 6:42 p.m. ET

Zelensky’s message: Ukraine is fighting for good over evil.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House on Wednesday.Credit...Tom Brenner for The New York Times

KYIV, Ukraine — Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky was often brushed off as a former comedian who stumbled into the job of leading a nation with the seemingly naïve promise of cleaning up Ukraine’s endemic corruption.

After a quick trip Tuesday to the bloodiest theater in the war, he arrived in Washington on Wednesday a national hero and global superstar, having forged a leadership style blending personal daring with deft messaging to rally his people at home and his allies abroad.

That aura has served him and his country well to this point. But Mr. Zelensky arrives in Washington at a pivotal time for Ukraine, when his troops’ lightning counteroffensives from this fall are slowing down. He will be pleading for the more powerful weapons he believes Ukraine needs, but he will have to walk a fine line.

By taking a daring trip abroad during wartime, he is seeking to project strength and show confidence that Ukraine will ultimately prevail. But to make the case for continued financial and military support, he needs to draw attention to the dire threat Ukraine still faces without seeming weak.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky visiting the southern city of Kherson last month. He is venturing into the field more often to project confidence.Credit...Finbarr O'Reilly for The New York Times

“President Zelensky would like to present this trip as serious progress in the war,” Volodymyr Ariev, a member of Parliament in the opposition European Solidarity Party, said in an interview. “It’s a pretty clear message that the alliance of the United States and Ukraine is maintained and is quite strong.”

In Ukraine, the visit was also seen as tied to the American political calendar, coming as control of the House passes to the Republican Party, some of whose members have voiced skepticism of continuing to funnel assistance to Ukraine.

Another of Mr. Zelensky’s principal aims, analysts say, is to maintain unified American support for the war, doing whatever he can to avoid having it devolve into a partisan issue.

“Zelensky should not maneuver between the Democrats and Republicans,” Yevhen Mahda, a political commentator in Kyiv, said in an interview. “He should suggest a new paradigm — the paradigm that Ukraine today is at the epicenter of the battle between good and evil.

“And by supporting Ukraine, the United States supports good,” Mr. Mahda added. “This is the necessary message.”

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Mr. Zelensky, a former comedian, has proved to be a master of political messaging. He spoke to Congress in a virtual address in March.Credit...Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times

Mr. Zelensky, a former comedian, has always had a keen sense of image and storytelling in politics, which is evident in his following up a frontline visit to the eastern city of Bakhmut — with booming artillery as a backdrop — with his address to Congress.

“It’s an honor for me to be here today,” Mr. Zelensky had told the soldiers in Bakhmut, where Russia has been pressing a fierce offensive for months. To those with children, he said, “I wish that your sun, that is your children, will shine for you, for them to motivate you to survive, for sure, and defend your families, our families, all of our state and the future of our children.”

At a news conference on Wednesday with President Biden in Washington, where he delivered a personal plea for more economic and military support, he had a similar message when asked what he would want the world to know: “I wish you peace,” he said, switching from Ukrainian to English. “And you understand it only when the war is in your country.” He added: “I wish you to see your children when they will go to universities, and to see their children.”

Analysts say that Mr. Zelensky is also keenly aware that he needs to bolster the morale of his people, millions of whom are living without electricity, water or heating as winter sets in.

For the most part, however, Mr. Zelensky faced no political pressure at home and was free to tailor the trip to the imperative of filling out his military’s arsenal for the war.

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Ukrainian forces firing an M777 howitzer, supplied by the United States, toward Russian positions in the Donetsk region in June.Credit...Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

The United States is by far the largest foreign supplier of weapons to the Ukrainian Army. But the Biden administration has carefully calibrated its assistance to Ukraine, holding back longer-range and more powerful weapons for fear of Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory that could drag NATO into the war.

Two successful Ukrainian counteroffensives in the northeast and in the south have run their course, and the Russian and Ukrainian armies are digging in along a new, 600-mile front line. To maintain that progress, Ukrainian officials and analysts say, its military needs more advanced weapons systems.

Mr. Zelensky will have the opportunity to address the concerns of U.S. lawmakers about the oversight of military and financial aid to Ukraine, and he could be pushed on domestic matters like press freedom, fighting corruption and ensuring checks and balances between the courts and executive branch.

But Mr. Zelensky’s major objective is to portray the war in stark terms of good versus evil that he hopes will transcend American politics and will give “a sense of the rightness of his cause and the sense of what his people and his soldiers feel,” said Yuri Makarov, the editor in chief of the Ukrainian national broadcasting company.

Maria Varenikova contributed reporting from Kyiv.

Vanessa Friedman
Dec. 21, 2022, 5:39 p.m. ET

Zelensky flies the flag of Ukraine’s enduring defiance with a crew neck and cargo pants.

Yes, this is his first foreign trip since the Russian invasion began. And yes, Ukraine has defied all odds in holding out for 10 months against an aggressor that expected to claim his country’s capital within days.

But the watching world should be on notice: The war is far from over.

Such was the message from President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine when he stepped onto the lawn of the White House to be greeted by President Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, and then later, at a joint news conference with Mr. Biden.

Or rather, such was the message conveyed by the olive green sweatshirt (complete with Ukrainian trident at the throat), cargo pants and hard boots that Mr. Zelensky was wearing, before he had even said a word.

It is impossible to believe that Mr. Zelensky, a president familiar with optics from his years as a performer, chose by happenstance to appear in the militaristic garb that he has made his wartime uniform, rather than adopt the dark suit and tie normal to White House visits (de rigueur for most senators and representatives, and for visiting dignitaries and cabinet members alike).

By remaining in the character he has played since the war began, Mr. Zelensky offered an immediate visual reminder of his purpose to all those watching. Including his people, his fighters, his allies — and, not least, his foe in the Kremlin.

Whatever he and Mr. Biden say to each other behind closed doors, Mr. Zelensky’s in-the-trenches regalia was impossible to ignore — as it has been since he first appeared in an olive green T-shirt in a Kyiv bunker after Russia invaded in February. On Wednesday, the impact was heightened by the contrast with Mr. Biden’s businesslike navy suit, worn with a navy and yellow striped tie in a nod to the national colors of Ukraine, and the sky blue coat of Dr. Biden.

Had Mr. Zelensky resorted to the mufti of the capital, he would have blended in with his surroundings, suggesting, perhaps, that a more familiar or reassuring stage of the conflict had begun. That he did not was as much a strategic choice as any deployment, this one targeted to an image-consuming age.

Mr. Zelensky is a wartime leader, and he is making sure that all anyone has to do is look at him to get the point.

John Ismay
Dec. 21, 2022, 2:51 p.m. ET

The latest U.S. package of weapons for Kyiv will include Patriot missiles.

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Patriot missile launches seen at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland in March.Credit...Reuters

WASHINGTON — The United States will provide Ukraine with its best air defense system for guarding against enemy warplanes, drones and cruise missiles as part of a new package of military aid to Kyiv valued at up to $1.85 billion, according to a statement the State Department emailed to reporters on Wednesday.

Most of the aid, the most expensive package for Ukraine since late August, will come from existing Pentagon stockpiles, which for the first time will include a Patriot air defense battery — a collection of missile launchers, radars and support vehicles.

The version of Patriot in service with the U.S. military can fire three different kinds of interceptor missiles, including one capable of engaging incoming ballistic missiles, like the ones that Russia are believed to be pursuing from Iran.

In a briefing for reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday afternoon, a senior defense official declined to say how many Patriot missiles would be sent, or where Ukrainian soldiers would be trained to use them, saying only that such training would begin soon and last several months.

Other military officials have said the Ukrainian troops would be trained at a base in Germany.

The Patriot battery is just one item in a $1 billion list of goods to be taken from existing Defense Department inventories, the 28th such withdrawal for Kyiv since August 2021.

An unspecified number of GMLRS guided rockets — which can hit targets 50 miles away with 200 pounds of explosives — will be sent, the 13th such shipment that has been publicly announced since June 1. The aid also includes 500 more precision-guided 155-millimeter shells, AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, mortar weapons and ammunition, armored vehicles and other weapons and equipment.

The announcement also noted that “precision aerial munitions” would be provided from U.S. stocks, but it did not specify the type or quantity.

In addition to the weapons that will be shipped from existing inventories, the State Department said it would send $850 million to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a program that allows Kyiv to purchase goods directly from private industry with funds provided by the United States.

Those funds in Wednesday’s announcement will buy ammunition for Soviet-era weapons that Ukraine possessed before Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion, including 65,000 artillery shells, 50,000 Grad artillery rockets and 100,000 rounds of 125-millimeter tank ammunition.

The package also includes:

  • Satellite communication terminals and services

  • 37 Cougar mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles, or MRAPs

  • Over 2,700 grenade launchers and small arms

  • Demolition munitions and equipment

  • Night vision devices and optics

  • Tactical secure communications systems

Dec. 21, 2022, 2:29 p.m. ET

With Russia bolstering defenses and adding soldiers, U.S. officials see a possible stalemate ahead.

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With Russian troops improving their defensive positions and committing ever more soldiers to the front lines, Ukrainian forces might find it more difficult to reclaim occupied territory in the coming months.Credit...Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

WASHINGTON — As the war in Ukraine soon enters its second year, Ukrainian troops will find it much more challenging to reclaim territory from Russian forces who are focused on defending their remaining land gains rather than making a deeper push into the country, American officials say.

Over the course of the first 10 months of the war, the Ukrainian military has — with significant American support — outmaneuvered an incompetent Russian military, fought it to a standstill and then retaken hundreds of square miles and the only regional capital that Russia had captured.

Despite relentless Russian attacks on civilian power supplies, Ukraine has still kept up the momentum on the front lines since September. But the tide of the war is likely to change in the coming months, as Russia improves its defenses and pushes more soldiers to the front lines, making it more difficult for Ukraine to retake the huge swaths of territory it lost this year.

All of these factors make the most likely scenario going into the second year of the war a stalemate in which neither army can take much land despite intense fighting, according to U.S. government assessments.

“I do think that it is far easier for Ukraine to defend territory than to go on the offensive to recapture territory,” said Evelyn Farkas, a former senior Pentagon official who is now executive director of the McCain Institute. “We need to be providing Ukrainians the necessary equipment and training to do that.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is expected to ask for just that when he meets President Biden and addresses Congress on Wednesday evening, his first visit outside the country since the start of the war.

Michael D. ShearZolan Kanno-Youngs
Dec. 21, 2022, 2:10 p.m. ET

Zelensky arrives at the White House to meet with Biden.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was greeted by President Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House on Wednesday.Credit...Tom Brenner for The New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrived at the White House Wednesday for a show of solidarity with President Biden and a plea for continued support from his American allies as his country digs in for a long, cold winter of war.

Seated in front of a roaring fire in the Oval Office and speaking in halting English, Mr. Zelensky offered “all my appreciations, from my heart, from the heart of all Ukrainians” for American support as his forces battle Russian invaders.

Mr. Biden told Mr. Zelensky that his people “inspire the world” and he blamed Russian President Vladimir V. Putin for trying to “use winter as a weapon” by attacking civilian targets that provide electricity and heat to millions of people. Mr. Biden pledged continuing support for “the great people of Ukraine.”

Mr. Zelensky presented Mr. Biden with a cross for military merit award that he was given by a soldier on the front lines in Ukraine. The soldier, a captain, said Mr. Zelensky should give it to the “very brave president” who had saved many lives in his country.

“Undeserved, but much appreciated,” Mr. Biden replied.

Just moments before, Mr. Biden welcomed his Ukrainian counterpart in a ceremony on the South Lawn for what officials said would be two hours of closed-door meetings in which the leaders will reaffirm their determination to defend Ukraine against what they have called an illegal invasion by Russian forces that began in February.

Mr. Zelensky’s visit to the capital of his most powerful benefactor — kept secret until the eve of his arrival for security reasons — is a dramatic show of confidence by Ukraine’s leader, who had not left his country since President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia began his assault 300 days ago.

But it comes at a moment that hope for peace seems distant, as both sides gird for months of continued fighting. In Russia, officials warned that deliveries of new U.S. weapons will lead “to an aggravation of the conflict” and Mr. Putin vowed that his government will provide “everything that the army asks for — everything” in its search for conquest.

Wednesday’s one-day trip to Washington is designed as a thank you, a victory lap, and a sales pitch all at once. As he has done since the beginning, Mr. Zelensky intends to be blunt with Mr. Biden and, later, with members of Congress during a speech on Capitol Hill. He is expected to say that his country cannot survive without billions of dollars worth of sophisticated American war equipment.

“President Zelensky’s visit here is at least partially, maybe primarily, designed to bolster that support and rejuvenate the enthusiasm for Ukraine’s success,” said William B. Taylor, Jr., who served as ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009. “That is all going to be necessary for the Ukrainians to be able to pre-empt a Russian offensive.”

Mr. Zelensky is certain to get some, but not all, of what he wants. Congress is just days away from approval of almost $50 billion in additional security and economic assistance for Ukraine. The State Department has announced the delivery of a Patriot missile battery to help Ukraine defend against attacks from the sky, but the administration is still refusing longer range weapons that could strike deep into Russia and potentially draw the United States into direct conflict with Mr. Putin and his military.

For Mr. Biden, the highly-orchestrated visit is an opportunity to remind Americans of why he has committed the United States’ treasury — though not its soldiers — to defending the borders of a country a continent away. It is, he will say, the only way to ensure the rights of each country to maintain its sovereignty in the face of blatant violations of international law.

That decision has not come without sacrifices and political cost for Mr. Biden, who rightly predicted before the war started that Americans would suffer economic consequences as the impacts of the first war in Europe in decades rippled across the world. Gas and food prices spiked, helping to send inflation soaring in the United States and elsewhere.

Now, after rallying dozens of nations to oppose Russia’s invasion, Mr. Biden finds himself needing to hold that coalition together for longer than anyone inside the White House imagined at the start of the war. And he faces a concerted effort by Mr. Putin to break the alliance by restricting energy resources and attacking civilian areas in Ukraine.

“The most important part of this visit might be to combat Putin’s belief that time is on his side in the war,” said Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Reporting was contributed by Emily Cochrane in Washington, Anton Troianovski in Berlin and Andrew E. Kramer in Kyiv.

Michael CrowleyEmily Cochrane
Dec. 21, 2022, 1:39 p.m. ET

The Senate confirms Biden’s pick for a tough role: ambassador to Russia.

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Lynne M. Tracy during a November hearing for her confirmation as the U.S. ambassador to Russia.Credit...Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Biden’s nominee for ambassador to Russia, Lynne M. Tracy, by a 93-2 vote.

Ms. Tracy, a career diplomat who speaks Russian, has served as the U.S. ambassador to Armenia for nearly four years. She succeeds John J. Sullivan, who departed Moscow in September to retire from public service. She will arrive in Moscow with U.S.-Russia relations in a toxic state, as the Biden administration sends tens of billions of dollars to defend Ukraine against Russia’s ongoing invasion.

But a modicum of diplomacy is carrying on between Washington and Moscow, with each side maintaining functioning embassies, with bare-bones staff, in the other’s capital. U.S. officials say that maintaining some ties is vital to prevent dangerous misunderstandings and protecting vital interests.

Ms. Tracy served as deputy chief of mission, or the second-ranking official, at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from 2014 to 2017.

She has also been senior adviser for Russia affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and has worked at U.S. diplomatic outposts in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Helene Cooper
Dec. 21, 2022, 1:17 p.m. ET

What are Patriot missiles, and why does Ukraine want them?

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A Patriot antimissile system launcher in Rzeszow, Poland, in March.Credit...Sean Gallup/Getty Images

WASHINGTON — After months of debate, the Biden administration said on Wednesday that it was sending its most advanced ground-based air defense system, the Patriot, to Ukraine, responding to Kyiv’s urgent request to help defend against an onslaught of Russian missile and drone attacks.

The Patriot system is part of a $1.8 billion aid package for Ukraine that was announced as the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, arrived in Washington to meet with President Biden and other officials.

Americans of a certain age may draw their introduction to Patriot missiles back to the Persian Gulf war in 1991, when a series of them brought down one Iraqi Scud missile after another, in defense of Israel.

The Patriot is now one of the most sought-after air defense systems on the American weapons market, used by Saudi and Emirati forces in Yemen and throughout the NATO alliance in Europe. Israel still uses it. Now, add Ukraine to the list.

Here’s a look at the air defense system.

What are Patriot missiles?

The Patriot is a mobile surface-to-air missile and antiballistic missile system that can shoot down incoming missiles before they hit their intended targets. Patriot batteries can also shoot down aircraft. Mounted on trucks, to be moved around at will, each system is capable of holding four missile interceptors. In military circles, they are viewed as a security blanket, protecting a population, troops or even buildings from incoming fire.

The U.S. military has deployed Patriot batteries in numerous conflicts over the past 30 years. Most recently, U.S. troops at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates fired Patriot interceptors at missiles headed toward the base in January, U.S. Central Command said.

Why did Ukraine request them?

Kyiv hopes to use that security blanket to help block incoming missiles. Since President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February, Moscow has unleashed a torrent of missile and airstrikes on both civilian and military targets in Ukraine.

But in recent weeks, after a humiliating withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson — the southern city that Mr. Putin had only a month before claimed as part of his country’s territory — Moscow has been relentless. Russia has pounded Ukrainian power plants, heating systems and other energy infrastructure, leaving millions of people to fend off freezing winter temperatures without electricity or heat.

This month, Russian drone strikes on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa plunged more than 1.5 million people into darkness. The government in Kyiv sees the Patriot system as a way to help shore up Ukraine’s air defenses.

Beyond the practical, Kyiv sees symbolic advantages in the Patriot system: proof that the United States, rather than tiring of support for Ukraine, is intensifying efforts to help it resist the Russian onslaught.

What can they do?

Patriot batteries can project defenses out some 600 miles. While they are far from foolproof, they can target and shoot down long-range ballistic missiles and aircraft from hundreds of miles away. They also have powerful radar systems — better than comparable air defense systems — that make it easier for Patriots to differentiate who is friend and who is foe.

How much do they cost?

A lot. One single interceptor missile costs about $4 million, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Each launcher costs around $10 million. That may limit their use to situations in which incoming airstrikes are going to cause a lot of damage or cost lives.

Are the missiles foolproof?

Not by a long shot. Patriot missiles have plenty of critics — a headline in Foreign Policy in 2018 claimed that “Patriot Missiles Are Made in America and Fail Everywhere,” which U.S. military officials said was hyperbole. But the public has been misled about Patriot performance before. During the gulf war, military officials said the system intercepted all but two Iraqi Scud missiles. Later, the Pentagon had to revise that to a 50 percent shoot-down rate.

Today, the efficacy rate is believed to be higher, but it is hard to find accurate figures. Military experts say it is important to know how — and in what circumstances — to use one.

How many people does it take to use one?

A Patriot battery needs close to 100 people to use it, officials say. Ukrainian troops would have to be trained to operate the system. But the learning curve should not be that steep, as Ukrainian service members have shown themselves to be quick studies on military systems.

Andrew E. Kramer
Dec. 21, 2022, 11:49 a.m. ET

Zelensky’s travel plans were shrouded in secrecy and carefully arranged.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky’s movements have been kept mostly secret during the war. His appearances have also featured a heavy security presence.Credit...David Guttenfelder for The New York Times

KYIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelensky’s first trip abroad since the start of the war was cloaked in secrecy, following the same pattern of stealthy planning and tight security that the Ukrainian leader has adhered to at home throughout the conflict.

Over the summer, he took to holding meetings in a subway station, deep underground and safer from the impact of Russian missiles. His office has taken to announcing events only after they are completed, to keep strikes from being aimed at the location.

He has declined to say where he sleeps at night, and little has surfaced in public about how he moves around the capital and country. His offices are heavily fortified, in a leafy and otherwise quiet neighborhood of Kyiv where armored cars block crossroads and soldiers man concrete-fortified positions.

Similarly, few details of his trans-Atlantic trip to Washington on Wednesday emerged in public. The White House said that Mr. Zelensky discussed a visit to Washington with President Biden on Dec. 11, but the first reports of his travel appeared only late Tuesday in Ukraine.

Government officials in Ukraine usually travel by train, in convoys of cars or in low-flying military helicopters that buzz close to the ground to avoid radar detection.

Ukrainska Pravda, a Ukrainian news outlet, reported on Wednesday that Mr. Zelensky had traveled by train to Poland before boarding a flight to Washington.

As word spread about the president’s travel, Alexander Kamyshin, the head of the national railway, which has carried Mr. Zelensky on some trips inside Ukraine, expressed concern — and a bit of humor — about the president’s first known plane trip in nearly 10 months.

“A bit nervous,” Mr. Kamyshin tweeted. “First time since the beginning of the war my President goes for a trip not by train.”

Maggie Haberman
Dec. 21, 2022, 11:25 a.m. ET

Zelensky’s entanglement in American politics started with Trump.

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Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has been enmeshed in U.S. politics for years, albeit not because of his own actions.

In 2019, a few months after he was elected, Mr. Zelensky became something of a household name in the United States when a phone conversation he had with President Donald J. Trump helped trigger Mr. Trump’s first impeachment.

At the time, Mr. Zelensky was seeking a meeting with Mr. Trump, but Mr. Trump wanted something in return.

During their 30-minute phone call, Mr. Zelensky made clear he was interested in purchasing more weapons from the United States. Mr. Trump ask him to “do us a favor” and work with Attorney General William P. Barr and Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, on investigations into Joseph R. Biden Jr., who would go on to become his 2020 opponent, and his son, Hunter Biden.

Mr. Trump maintained that the call was “perfect,” and released a transcript of it. Instead of clearing Mr. Trump, the transcript verified that he had pressed Mr. Zelensky for investigations into Mr. Trump’s political rival and had implied that his willingness to send more military aid to Ukraine could be linked to Mr. Zelensky’s willingness to help him look into Hunter Biden’s activities in Ukraine.

The impeachment inquiry that followed dominated Mr. Trump’s third year in office, and the Democratic-led House voted to impeach him in December 2019. Mr. Zelensky never visited Mr. Trump.

Mr. Zelensky visited Mr. Biden at the White House on Sept. 1, 2021, a few months before Russia’s invasion. The visit on Wednesday is Mr. Zelensky’s first to the United States since then.

During their meeting in 2021, Mr. Biden, who oversaw Ukraine policy as vice president during the Obama administration, affirmed support for the country. “The partnership between our nations grows stronger and its going to become even stronger,” Mr. Biden said.

The main point of American political friction now for Mr. Zelensky is the opposition to continued large-scale aid to Ukraine from Mr. Trump’s supporters in Congress.

Maria Varenikova
Dec. 21, 2022, 11:08 a.m. ET

As air-raid sirens blare, Kyiv residents say they hope Zelensky’s visit will persuade the U.S. to give them better weapons.

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People took shelter in Kyiv again on Wednesday as air-raid alarms sounded.Credit...Felipe Dana/Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine — As air-raid sirens sounded, many Ukrainians on the streets of the capital Kyiv said they were optimistic for President Zelensky’s trip to Washington, expressing hope they would get more powerful weapons to battle Russia’s onslaught on infrastructure that has left millions shivering in the dark and cold.

The visit is a big moment for the country and for Mr. Zelensky, a sign of confidence as he left Ukraine for the first time since Russian forces pushed into the country in February. Kyiv has had a series of successes on the battlefield, aided by increasingly sophisticated weapons from its Western allies, but many are bracing for a long winter of Russian drone strikes.

“There are air-raid sirens right now and I want to cry,” said Svitlana Hodovana, 75, describing a now near-daily occurrence in the capital. “But I tell myself to be strong and that we will live it through. All the world can see how brave Ukrainians are — but we need support.”

She said that she hoped that Mr. Zelensky would not give in to pressure to engage in peace talks with Moscow. Ukraine says Russia would use negotiations to reorganize and rearm for new offensives, and U.S. officials said this month that Russia was not prepared to negotiate in good faith.

“We need powerful support, not peace talks,” Ms. Hodovana said.

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“There are air-raid sirens right now and I want to cry,” said Svitlana Hodovana.Credit...Maria Varenikova for The New York Times

Others expressed similar hopes for Mr. Zelensky to galvanize support for more military aid.

Aid to Ukraine still has widespread support on Capitol Hill. A new deal was announced Tuesday that would push the American investment in the war against Russia to more than $100 billion this year. In a statement, Mr. Zelensky’s office said he would talk to Mr. Biden about “strengthening the resilience and defense capabilities of Ukraine.”

“The U.S. is our most important partner,” said Daria Kudimova, 39, lauding Mr. Zelensky as a leader “who follows his people.”

Many Ukrainians agreed that the president was bold to take his first trip out of the country since the invasion but they did not appear fazed by the risk of travel. Some pointed out Mr. Zelensky’s had made a risky visit on Tuesday to the eastern city of Bakhmut, which has been the scene of fierce fighting for months.

“Going to the U.S. can’t be more dangerous than to go to the frontline city of Bakhmut,” said Maksym Honchar, 25.

“It’s good he went there,” he said, adding that he expected “some positive changes after this visit.”

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“Going to the U.S. can’t be more dangerous than to go to the frontline city of Bakhmut,” said Maksym Honchar.Credit...Maria Varenikova for The New York Times

There was also hope that in addition to asking for military support, Mr. Zelensky might demand more assistance in dealing with Russia’s assault on the energy grid, which has left Ukrainians living in constant fear of attack.

Kyiv, a capital of 3.3 million people, had largely escaped the devastation visited on other cities, but is now struggling with shortages of central heating, electricity and running water.

“Everywhere is dangerous,” said Serhiy Dziubynsky, 56, who said that he had fled from the southern region of Kherson three weeks ago only to met by more threats of attacks in Kyiv.

“I was walking here with my grandson when air-raid siren started, and so it is also dangerous here,” he added. Mr. Zelensky “cannot do nothing; he must do something. And I hope we will get the weapons.”

Annie Karni
Dec. 21, 2022, 10:54 a.m. ET

Zelensky faces an uphill battle with many Republican House members.

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Representative Kevin McCarthy of California has indicated an unwillingness to continue the pace of aid to Ukraine once Republicans are in control of the House.Credit...Al Drago for The New York Times

When President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine addresses a joint session of Congress on Wednesday evening, seeking to reaffirm American support for his country, he will be facing an audience that includes many Republican lawmakers hostile to authorizing more money for military and humanitarian aid for his country — if they show up.

In May, 57 House Republicans voted against a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine. In the Senate, 11 Republicans voted against it, a sign of how a large segment of the G.O.P. has been taken over by libertarian-minded conservatives who have adopted former President Donald J. Trump’s “America First” position.

The giant annual spending bill unveiled Tuesday included more than $44 billion in emergency aide to Ukraine. Some Republicans have questioned the massive spending, arguing that the United States can’t afford it when families and businesses are struggling in their districts.

Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the top House Republican, voted for the Ukraine aid package in May. But ahead of the midterm elections, Mr. McCarthy indicated that a Republican-controlled House of Representatives would make it more difficult for President Biden to continue sending aid abroad.

“I think people are going to be sitting in a recession, and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine,” he said in an interview with the Punchbowl News newsletter. “Ukraine is important, but at the same time, it can’t be the only thing they do, and it can’t be a blank check.”

Mr. Zelensky’s daring visit, which will be paired with the announcement of a new security package by President Biden — comes at a precarious moment for Mr. McCarthy, who is in a white-knuckle political fight to become speaker and needs the support of extremists in his conference, many of whom oppose sending more aid abroad. At the same time, Mr. McCarthy is also trying to appeal to the traditional, hawkish conservatives who support helping Ukraine.

It is not clear how many of the Republican lawmakers who oppose sending more money to Ukraine will skip the historic session altogether. Democrats encouraged them to attend despite their opposition to more aid.

“I hope all House Republicans will attend the Zelensky address this evening,” Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, said on Wednesday. “I hope that Donald Trump’s friendship with Putin is not motivating House Republicans to turn a blind eye to Ukraine’s suffering and desperate need for help.”

The Republican House members who voted against Ukraine aid include many of the same lawmakers who are not yet publicly supporting Mr. McCarthy for speaker, like Andy Biggs of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andrew Clyde of Georgia and Matt Gaetz of Florida.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also voted against the Ukraine aid in May and has been vocal in her opposition to more support for the war effort. But she has made a political calculation to whip votes for Mr. McCarthy’s bid for speaker.

Ahead of Mr. Zelensky’s visit, Ms. Greene called him the “shadow president” on Twitter, complaining that “he needs billions of American’s taxpayer dollars for the 51st state, Ukraine. This is absurd. Put America First!!!”

Emily Cochrane
Dec. 20, 2022, 3:34 p.m. ET

Congress’s sprawling spending bill includes more than $44 billion for Ukraine.

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Ukrainian soldiers camouflaging an American-made M-777 howitzer in the Donetsk region in May.Credit...Ivor Prickett for The New York Times

Lawmakers on Tuesday announced a deal to provide more than $44 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine in its battle against a Russian invasion, racing to commit another tranche of assistance before the start of a new Congress in January.

The effort to support Ukraine has retained widespread support on Capitol Hill, and the latest package of aid would push the American investment in the war against Russia to more than $100 billion this year. Some officials have expressed some concern that Republicans, eager to force deep spending cuts when they take control of the House in January, will be far more reluctant to continue pouring billions of dollars into the war effort abroad.

It is part of a roughly $1.7 trillion spending package that will keep the American government open through September 2023, which is expected to become law before the end of the week. The package eclipses the $37.7 billion request the White House made earlier this year, with Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, hailing an opportunity to “fulfill our promise to stand with our friends in Ukraine.”

It would provide $9 billion to support training, equipment, supplies and other resources to the Ukrainian military, according to a summary released by House Democrats. It would also provide more than $13 billion in economic assistance to the country and more than $11 billion to replenish American weaponry already sent to Ukraine.

The package would also set aside more than $2 billion to help refugees from the country secure emergency housing, job training and English language classes.

In their own separate accounting of the emergency aid package, Senate Republicans pointedly noted it would also set aside billions of dollars for inspector generals to scrutinize how the money is being spent and require regular reports on what the money is being used for.

The international community also announced aid for Ukraine on Tuesday. The World Bank approved a loan package worth $610 million, which includes $100 million devoted to health care. The bank has given $15 billion to Ukraine this year, it said.

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