WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a defiant wartime go to to Washington on Wednesday to thank U.S. leaders and “strange Individuals” for his or her assist in preventing off Russia’s invasion and pledged there can be “no compromises” in attempting to carry an finish to the battle. President Joe Biden and Congress responded with billions in new help and a pledge to assist Ukraine pursue a “simply peace.”

Biden welcomed Zelenskyy to the Oval Workplace, saying the U.S. and Ukraine would proceed to venture a “united protection” as Russia wages a “brutal assault on Ukraine’s proper to exist as a nation.” Zelenskyy, on his first recognized journey outdoors his nation since Russia invaded in February, mentioned he wished to go to earlier and his go to now confirmed the “state of affairs is underneath management, due to your assist.”

Pressed on how Ukraine would attempt to carry an finish to the battle, Zelenskyy rejected Biden’s framing of a “simply peace,” saying, “For me as a president, ‘simply peace’ isn’t any compromises.” He mentioned the battle would finish as soon as Ukraine’s sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity had been restored, in addition to the “payback for all of the damages inflicted by Russian aggression.”

“There can’t be any ‘simply peace’ within the battle that was imposed on us,” he added.

The extremely delicate journey was happening after 10 months of a brutal battle that has seen tens of hundreds of casualties on each side and devastation for Ukrainian civilians. Zelenskyy’s go to was meant to reinvigorate assist for his nation within the U.S. and all over the world, amid considerations that allies are rising weary of the pricey battle and its disruption to world meals and power provides.

Simply earlier than his arrival, the U.S. introduced its largest single supply of arms to Ukraine, together with Patriot surface-to-air missiles, and Congress deliberate to vote on a spending bundle that features about $45 billion in emergency help to Ukraine.

Russia, Biden mentioned, is “attempting to make use of winter as a weapon, however Ukrainian folks proceed to encourage the world.” Later, in a joint information convention, he mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin has “no intention of stopping this merciless battle.”

The 2 leaders appeared to share a heat rapport, laughing at every others’ feedback and patting one another on the again all through the go to, although Zelenskyy made clear he’ll proceed to press Biden and different Western leaders for ever extra assist.

He mentioned that after the Patriot system was up and working, “we are going to ship one other sign to President Biden that we wish to get extra Patriots.”

“We’re within the battle,” Zelenskyy added with a smile, as Biden chuckled on the direct request. “I’m sorry. I’m actually sorry.”

Biden mentioned it’s “vital for the American folks, and for the world, to listen to instantly from you, Mr. President, about Ukraine’s combat, and the necessity to proceed to face collectively via 2023.”

After the White Home assembly, the Ukrainian president was scheduled to offer an handle to Congress, which Vice President Kamala Harris was attending.

Zelenskyy headed overseas after making a daring and harmful journey Tuesday to what he referred to as the most well liked spot on the 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) entrance line of the battle, town of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s contested Donetsk province. He praised Ukrainian troops for his or her “braveness, resilience and energy” as artillery boomed within the background.

Poland’s personal broadcaster, TVN24, mentioned Zelenskyy crossed into Poland early Wednesday on his solution to Washington. The station confirmed footage of what seemed to be Zelenskyy arriving at a prepare station and being escorted to a motorcade of American SUVs. TVN24 mentioned the video, partially blurred for safety causes, was shot in Przemysl, a Polish border city that has been the arrival level for a lot of refugees fleeing the battle.

Officers, citing safety considerations, had been cagey about Zelenskyy’s journey plans, however a U.S. official confirmed that Zelenskyy arrived on a U.S. Air Drive jet that landed at Joint Base Andrews, simply outdoors the capital, from the Polish metropolis of Rzeszow.

Biden informed Zelenskyy, who wore a combat-green sweatshirt and boots throughout their Oval Workplace assembly, that ”it’s an honor to be by your facet.”

Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in her invitation to Zelenskyy to talk to lawmakers, mentioned “the combat for Ukraine is the combat for democracy itself” and that they had been wanting ahead to “listening to your inspiring message of unity, resilience and dedication.”

U.S. and Ukrainian officers have made clear they don’t envision an imminent decision to the battle and are making ready for preventing to proceed for a while. The newest infusion of U.S. cash can be the largest but — and exceed Biden’s $37 billion request.

Biden has repeated that whereas the U.S. will arm and prepare Ukraine, American forces won’t be instantly engaged within the battle.

Biden and Zelenskyy first mentioned the concept of a go to throughout a phone name on Dec. 11, with a proper invitation following three days later, in response to a senior U.S. administration official. Zelenskyy accepted the invitation on Friday and it was confirmed on Sunday, when the White Home started coordinating with Pelosi to rearrange the congressional handle.

The White Home consulted with Zelenskyy on safety, together with the chance of Russian motion whereas he was briefly overseas, mentioned the official, who declined to element the measures taken to safeguard the Ukrainian chief. The official briefed reporters on the situation of anonymity due to the delicate nature of the go to.

The $1.85 billion U.S. navy assist bundle will embody, for the primary time, a Patriot missile battery and precision guided bombs for its fighter jets, U.S. officers mentioned. It represents an enlargement within the sorts of superior weaponry supposed to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses towards what has been an rising barrage of Russian missiles.

Russia’s International Ministry has mentioned the supply of the superior surface-to-air missile system can be thought-about a provocative step and that the system and any crews accompanying it will be a reliable goal for Moscow’s navy.

“It’s a defensive system,” Biden mentioned of sending the missile system. “It’s not escalatory — it’s defensive.”

It was unclear when the Patriot battery would arrive on the entrance strains in Ukraine, on condition that U.S. troops must prepare Ukrainian forces. The coaching may take a number of weeks and is anticipated to be executed in Germany.

The go to comes at an vital second, with the White Home bracing for better resistance when Republicans take management of the Home in January and provides extra scrutiny to assist for Ukraine. GOP chief Kevin McCarthy of California has mentioned his celebration won’t write a “clean verify” for Ukraine.

Biden and Zelenskyy steadily have talked by telephone, with Biden praising Ukraine for remaining steadfast towards the Russians and Zelenskyy thanking the U.S. president for assist.

Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer opened the chamber’s session by saying that passage of the help bundle and affirmation of the brand new U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne M. Tracy, would ship a robust sign that Individuals stand “unequivocally” with Ukraine. Tracy was confirmed afterward a 93-2 vote.

Schumer, a New York Democrat, mentioned Zelenskyy arrives not solely as a president however an “ambassador to freedom itself.”

The Senate’s high Republican, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, mentioned “essentially the most fundamental causes for persevering with to assist Ukraine degrade and defeat the Russian invaders are chilly, exhausting, sensible American pursuits.” He mentioned “defeating Russia’s aggression will assist forestall additional safety crises in Europe.”

Russia’s invasion, which started Feb. 24, has misplaced momentum. The illegally annexed provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia stay fiercely contested.

With the preventing within the east at a stalemate, Moscow has used missiles and drones to assault Ukraine’s energy gear, hoping to depart folks with out electrical energy as freezing climate units in.

In a video launched by his workplace from the Bakhmut go to, Zelenskyy was handed a signed Ukrainian flag and alluded to delivering it to U.S. leaders. “We’re grateful for his or her assist, however it isn’t sufficient,” he mentioned. “It’s a trace — it isn’t sufficient.”

Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Kyiv-based Penta Middle assume tank, mentioned Zelenskyy’s go to to the U.S. “ought to decide the course of the battle — Zelenskyy for the primary time dared to depart Ukraine and is relying on having the ability to preserve, and probably even strengthen, U.S. navy and financial help.”

Hanna Danylovych, 43, who lives in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, and works as a scientist, welcomed the prospect of extra navy provides, saying “there’s a nice need and dream to hurry up the elimination of Russian evil from our land.”

Putin on Wednesday informed his nation’s navy leaders that Russia will obtain its said objectives in Ukraine and use the fight expertise to strengthen its navy. His protection minister, Sergei Shoigu, mentioned Russia’s navy have to be expanded from the present 1 million to 1.5 million in the course of the preventing in Ukraine.

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Castillo reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Related Press writers Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Aamer Madhani, Chris Megerian and Seung Min Kim in Washington, Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, and Andrew Katell in New York contributed to this report.

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Comply with the AP’s protection of Russia’s battle in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine