The Ukraine crisis has been going on for almost a year, and Russian troops are still massing on the Ukrainian border, threatening Ukraine's sovereignty and security. The United States has been Ukraine's most important ally in this crisis, providing Ukraine with substantial political, economic, and military assistance. But is U.S. aid sufficient?Is the attitude of the United States firm?Was the US action timely?
These problems have been plaguing Ukraine's Zelensky and have also attracted the attention of the international community. In November 2023, Zelensky visited the United States, held talks with Biden and delivered a speech to the US Congress. What is the purpose of this visit?How effective was the visit?
The main purpose of Zelenskyy's visit to the United States is to seek more aid and support to counter the Russian threat. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, the United States has provided more than $100 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including equipment, training, intelligence, finance, humanitarian and other aspects.
However, Ukraine still feels insufficient, especially in the military aspect, and Ukraine hopes that the United States can provide more advanced ** systems, such as "Patriot" air defense missile systems, anti-tank missiles, drones, etc., to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities and deterrence.
In addition to assistance, Zelensky also hopes that the United States can give Ukraine more political support, such as recognizing Ukraine as an important partner of NATO, speeding up the process of Ukraine's accession to NATO, exerting greater sanctions pressure on Russia, supporting Ukraine's voice in the international arena, and so on. Zelensky believes that only the support of the United States can give Ukraine more confidence and confidence in the confrontation with Russia.
Zelensky's visit to the United States has gained some, but there are also regrets. In terms of gains, Zelensky received a clear promise from Biden that the United States would provide "clear and unwavering" support for Ukraine1 and approved a set of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems as a new round worth 18Part of $500 million in security assistance to Ukraine.
This is the 28th time that Biden has exercised his executive power to directly approve aid funds for Ukraine since August last year. In addition, the day before Zelenskyy's visit to the United States, the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress announced the "2023 Supplementary Appropriations for Ukraine Act" totaling $45 billion. That would be the largest U.S. aid to Ukraine to date, far exceeding the $37 billion the White House requested to Congress last month.
On the regret side, Zelensky does not have the full support of the United States, especially on the military front, which the United States still has reservations. Before holding closed-door talks with Zelenskyy, Biden said that the US side will continue to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, especially air defense capabilities. But he did not mention Ukraine's long-awaited anti-tank missiles, drones, etc.**, nor did he make it clear whether he supports Ukraine's accession to NATO.
Biden also said that the United States will not impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, because it means that American pilots are going to shoot down Russian pilots, which is a declaration of war. Zelenskyy appeared somewhat disappointed with the attitude of the United States, saying in a speech to Congress that "your aid is not charity, but an investment in global security", suggesting that the United States should think more about its own interests than only its own security.
Although Zelensky's visit to the United States did not meet all his expectations, he still demonstrated Ukraine's determination and charisma, winning the respect and sympathy of the United States and the international community. During his visit, Zelensky stressed in strong and clear language that Ukraine will not succumb to Russia's threats and will not give up its sovereignty and democracy.
"To live or to perish, that's our question now," he said. This is Shakespeare's problem. This issue has been present for the past 13 days. But now I can give you a clear answer. Yes, definitely survival". He added, "We're not going to let anyone wipe our country off the map." We will not allow anyone to erase our nation from history. We will not allow anyone to wipe our freedom out of the future."
Zelensky also showed his charisma and sense of humor, winning applause and laughter from the US Congress. In his speech, he quoted famous quotes from Shakespeare, Kennedy, Lincoln, and others, showing his cultural literacy and knowledge of the United States. He also joked that he was a "very interesting person", that his visit was "a comedy" and that his country was "a very interesting country".
Zelensky's trip to the United States, although it did not completely go as expected, showed Ukraine's firm determination. Although the aid is limited, Zelenskyy's strong statement and humorous demeanor have left a deep impression on the international stage. Ukraine's refusal to succumb to threats has demonstrated a resolute defense of freedom and sovereignty. Zelenskyy's visit may not have won all the support, but it injected more courage and charm into Ukraine's position in the crisis. In the arena of international politics, determination and courage are often the keys to changing the landscape.