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Bloomberg
The Kremlin criticised the outcome of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Washington and warned that Russia would continue to target weaponry supplied to Ukraine by the US and its allies.
Moscow followed Zelenskiy’s meeting with President Joe Biden and speech to the US Congress and saw no sign of a “willingness to listen to Russia’s concerns,†Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call, in answer to a question on the visit.
Russia will “of course†target the Patriot air-defense system that the US has pledged to send to Ukraine, he said. The US and its allies are “constantly expanding the range and raising the technical level†of weapons supplied to Ukraine, though this won’t prevent the Russian military from achieving its goals, he said.
Zelenskiy’s visit to the US was his first trip outside Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the February 24 invasion that provoked international condemnation and unprecedented sanctions on Russia’s economy. After it failed to seize Ukraine’s capital Kyiv early in the war, Russia’s army has suffered a series of defeats under pressure from a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Putin told his top defense officials that Russia has “no limitations†on military spending for the war, adding “I trust that there will be an appropriate response and the results will be achieved.â€
With its army increasingly stalled on the battlefield, Russia has turned to targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure with missile strikes aiming to deprive civilians of heat, power and water in winter.
Bolstered by billions of dollars in US and European military supplies and
financial aid, Ukrainian authorities have sounded increasingly confident that they can defeat Russia’s invasion and regain all of the territories taken in the war.
Zelenskiy wins applause, aid in US
Bloomberg
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had just half a day in Washington, his first trip abroad since Russia invaded his country 300 days ago, and every moment had to count.
By the time news broke that he would visit the White House and address Congress before Christmas, the battle-worn leader was already on a 8,400-kilometre (5,200-mile) journey with a message that could only be delivered in person: Thank you, but please do more.
The former television comedian deployed his wit and frankness with President Joe Biden and US lawmakers in a bid to keep their attention on a war headed into a merciless winter and unsure 2023.
Reflecting on a season many Ukrainians will spend with intermittent power, heat and water, Zelenskiy likened his people’s struggle to historic conflicts at Saratoga during the American Revolution and the 1944 Battle of the Bulge in Europe. Both were turning points in their respective conflicts and Zelenskiy said 2023 could be the same for Ukraine, if America and its allies stand fast.
He delivered that message with the soberness of a leader who had visited front-line troops in the eastern city of Bakhmut.