Washington, DC [US], US President Joe Biden apologized to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for the delay in passing a new military aid package blocked by Republican opposition in Congress, CNN reports.
Biden's apology came as he was announcing a new aid package for Ukraine in a bilateral meeting with Zelensky on Friday.
"You know, you have not bowed, you have not bowed at all, you continue to fight in a way that is just remarkable, just remarkable — and we're not going to walk away from you," Biden said, CNN reports. According to, the Ukrainian President was told.
The US President stressed that he was facing "difficulty getting the bill" he needs to pass.
"I apologize for not knowing for several weeks what was going to happen in terms of funding, because we were having trouble getting the bill that we had to pass, which took money from some of our very conservative members. There were people who were holding it back, but we got it done,'' he said.Biden took the opportunity to tout Friday's funding announcement, as well as extend additional funding to Ukraine since signing the supplement in April, CNN reports.
US President Biden said, "Since then, including today, I have announced six packages of critical funding – today I am also signing an additional $225 million package to help you rebuild the electric grid."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, inviting countries to attend the Ukraine Peace Summit, stressed that "time is running out" to return Ukrainian children "abducted by Russia" whom he accused That they are being taught to hate their motherland.
Stressing the need for open and inclusive dialogue, he said the world wants to be united and be able to act in "complete harmony".
The Ukrainian President said that more than 100 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the summit.He emphasized nuclear security, food security, prisoners of war, and the release of "Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia".
The White House said US President Joe Biden will not attend the Ukraine peace summit.
However, US Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Switzerland next week to attend the summit and will be accompanied by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Biden's apology came as he was announcing a new aid package for Ukraine in a bilateral meeting with Zelensky on Friday.
"You know, you have not bowed, you have not bowed at all, you continue to fight in a way that is just remarkable, just remarkable — and we're not going to walk away from you," Biden said, CNN reports. According to, the Ukrainian President was told.
The US President stressed that he was facing "difficulty getting the bill" he needs to pass.
"I apologize for not knowing for several weeks what was going to happen in terms of funding, because we were having trouble getting the bill that we had to pass, which took money from some of our very conservative members. There were people who were holding it back, but we got it done,'' he said.Biden took the opportunity to tout Friday's funding announcement, as well as extend additional funding to Ukraine since signing the supplement in April, CNN reports.
US President Biden said, "Since then, including today, I have announced six packages of critical funding – today I am also signing an additional $225 million package to help you rebuild the electric grid."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, inviting countries to attend the Ukraine Peace Summit, stressed that "time is running out" to return Ukrainian children "abducted by Russia" whom he accused That they are being taught to hate their motherland.
Stressing the need for open and inclusive dialogue, he said the world wants to be united and be able to act in "complete harmony".
The Ukrainian President said that more than 100 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the summit.He emphasized nuclear security, food security, prisoners of war, and the release of "Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia".
The White House said US President Joe Biden will not attend the Ukraine peace summit.
However, US Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Switzerland next week to attend the summit and will be accompanied by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
