Biden and Zelensky Meet in Paris; U.S. Provides $225 Million Military Aid to Ukraine

Joe Biden, the President of the United States, is scheduled to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Paris on Friday, June 8. According to Reuters, during the meeting, which will take place on the sidelines of the 80th anniversary of the Allied forces' operation in Normandy, Biden will provide a military aid package worth $225 million to Ukraine. The news agency cited its sources stating that this military aid package includes artillery shells and air defense interceptors. This will be the first meeting between the Presidents of the United States and Ukraine since Zelensky's visit to Washington last December. Reuters reported that Biden and Zelensky will meet again next week during the G7 summit regarding the use of frozen Russian assets following the invasion of Ukraine and securing $50 billion for Ukraine in Italy. Last month, Zelensky criticized the slow decision-making process in Western countries regarding assistance to Ukraine. On Thursday, June 7, Biden emphasized during the 80th anniversary of the Normandy battle that the U.S. and NATO will not cease their support for Ukraine in the face of the two-year military invasion by Russia. While attending the ceremony in France, he referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a 'domineering tyrant' and stated that democracy is now more at risk than at any time since World War II.