The president gained’t go to Kiev, however US lawmakers are within the Ukrainian capital demanding extra weapons
White Home Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated on Friday that President Joe Biden won’t be visiting Ukraine, a day after Biden himself stated he’s able to make the journey. A procession of world leaders have traveled to Kiev in current weeks, and though Biden gained’t be becoming a member of them, Republican lawmakers are already there, demanding extra arms for the Zelensky authorities.
Requested on Thursday whether or not he’s able to journey to Kiev, Biden advised a reporter “sure.” Nonetheless, Psaki appeared on the ‘Pod Save America’ podcast a day later to pour chilly water on these obvious plans.
“He’s prepared for something,” Psaki stated of Biden, earlier than including: “we’re not sending the president to Ukraine.”
Whereas Biden has pledged US assist to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s authorities, a visit to Poland final month was the closest he personally got here to Ukraine since Russia launched its navy offensive there in February. Psaki stated on Friday that really getting into Ukraine from Poland would contain an “eight-hour practice by means of a warfare zone,” one thing that’s “not within the plans for the president of the US.”
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Republican lawmakers hammered Biden earlier this week for not visiting Kiev, notably after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with Zelensky there final weekend. Along with Johnson, EU Fee President Ursula von der Leyen additionally visited the Ukrainian capital, as did the leaders of Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
Then, as now, the White Home insisted that Biden wouldn’t comply with in Johnson’s footsteps. As a substitute, “he sits within the Oval Workplace and within the Scenario Room every day, organizing and coordinating the world relating to the supply of weapons,” Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan advised NBC Information on Sunday.
Nonetheless, the White Home is contemplating sending a high official – possible Secretary of State Tony Blinken or Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin – to Kiev as a present of assist, Politico reported on Wednesday.
Biden approved the most recent US arms cargo to Ukraine on Wednesday. The $ 800 million bundle consists of heavy artillery, helicopters, and autonomous kamikaze drones. In line with a CNN report on Friday, the primary flight of this cargo is anticipated to reach within the area inside a day.
