Washington — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House next week, in what could be his last visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue before President Biden leaves office.
The two leaders will meet on Thursday. Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Zelenskyy separately as well, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
“The leaders will discuss the state of the war between Russia and Ukraine, including Ukraine’s strategic planning and U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement. “The president and vice president will emphasize their unshakeable commitment to stand with Ukraine until it prevails in this war.”
The meeting comes as Ukraine has pushed U.S. officials and NATO allies to lift restrictions on Kyiv’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles against targets in Russian territory. Zelenskyy discussed the matter with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a meeting last week. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the firing of long-range missiles into Russia would represent a major escalation of NATO’s involvement in the war, which has dragged on for two and a half years.
Zelenskyy has been appreciative of Mr. Biden’s support for Ukraine and in rallying other nations to support Kyiv over the course of the war. Harris has pledged to continue that support.
“I’m looking forward to hosting my friend President Zelenskyy of Ukraine next week at the White House,” Mr. Biden posted on X. “During his visit, I’ll reaffirm America’s commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends its freedom and independence.”
The next week is heavy on foreign policy for Mr. Biden. Over the weekend, he will host the Quad Leaders Summit — composed of the leaders of Australia, India and Japan — at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. That summit will focus on their shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The president is also attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where Zelenskyy is likewise slated to speak.
