Inside Zelenskyy's US tour
We've spoken a lot in this newsletter about Bakhmut. The embattled Ukrainian city fell to Moscow's control in May and has been the site of a long, bloody and contentious territory fight that is probably more symbolic than strategic. On his second visit to Washington since the Kremlin's invasion of his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised that his country's military would prevail and reclaim the city of Bakhmut.
"We will de-occupy Bakhmut," Zelenskyy said to American media on Thursday as he concluded a tour of Washington where he set off to rally support before a divided Congress and White House. Retaking Bakhmut would be a significant breakthrough in the counteroffensive for Ukraine, but looming wet weather in the fall and the winter cold threaten to grind his mission to a halt.
Hi, I'm Nicole. We're going to hear more of Zelenskyy's comments from Washington. But first, a few quick updates:
- Ahead of Zelenskyy's visit, a coalition of 28 GOP lawmakers from the Senate and House signed a letter opposing President Joe Biden’s request of another $24 billion in additional aid related to Ukraine, arguing the White House has not done enough to persuade Congress on the war’s progress.
- Conservatives in the House of Representatives are pushing for Ukraine assistance be left out of a bill that would keep the government open through the end of the year. They are demanding stronger reporting on how the money is spent −and could end up voting to withhold aid altogether.
- At least five people were killed and dozens injured across Ukrainian cities early Thursday in a barrage of missile and artillery strikes as Zelenskyy was trying to rally support in Washington — and losing the military assistance of neighboring Poland amid a growing trade dispute.
'We will de-occupy Bakhmut'
As Kyiv sought to demonstrate it was making progress against Russian forces, it said this week that it had recently retaken two villages south of Bakhmut.
During a meeting with a small group of journalists that included Paste BN, Zelenskyy said he believes Ukraine can reclaim two additional cities with its counteroffensive. He did not specify which Russian-occupied cities in Ukraine he plans to target.
On the matter of impending winter weather, Zelenskyy remained resolute: "We can't stop during the winter," he said. "My answer is we will do everything not to stop during difficult days in Autumn with not good weather and in winter."
Zelenskyy's remarks capped off a daytrip to Washington, where he met with lawmakers, military brass and Biden at the White House. He also delivered a speech to members of the Ukrainian community at the National Archives. Attorney General Merrick Garland, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., were also in attendance.
On Thursday evening, Zelenskyy suggested that the meeting with House lawmakers of both parties, which House Speaker Kevin McCarthy attended, had yielded progress.
"He said that they will be on our side – it's not simple – that they will support," Zelenskyy said of the House speaker.
But Zelenskyy's visit came to far less fanfare than his previous appearances on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers who opposed Biden's request for more aid refused to attend the Ukrainian leader's address to Congress.
“I think that the entire thing is a bit of a farce. Zelenskyy comes and speaks to us for 45 minutes. I didn’t attend because we were given guidance this morning that we wouldn’t likely be given the opportunity to ask a question,” said Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio., who led the letter opposing the White House’s request for a supplemental. “So what is the purpose of him coming here if not to allow the American people’s elected representatives to ask him questions.”
And Congress has mere days to resolve a spending fight that is as much about the war in Ukraine as it is slashing federal expenditures. And unlike last year, this visit from Zelenskyy may not move the needle.
Conservatives in the House of Representatives are pushing for Ukraine assistance be left out of a bill that would keep the government open through the end of the year. They are demanding stronger reporting on how the money is spent −and could end up voting to withhold aid altogether.