Biden and Zelensky Reject Claims of Ukrainian Counteroffensive Failure, Acknowledge Achievements

On Tuesday, after a meeting at the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a joint press conference where they highlighted Ukraine's successes on the battlefield and dismissed claims of a halt to Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia. According to CNN, Biden stated that Ukraine has regained 50% of the territory occupied by Russia. He also noted Ukraine's success in pushing back the Russian Navy in the Black Sea and reopening grain export routes, emphasizing that these achievements are due to bipartisan support in the U.S. and backing from over 50 countries worldwide. Biden referred to a supplemental budget for aid to Ukraine that is currently stalled in Congress, saying, "We must ensure that Putin continues to fail in Ukraine while Ukraine continues to succeed, and the best way to do this is to pass the supplemental budget." Zelensky defended Ukraine's achievements in the war against Russia, stating, "We faced many problems, but nevertheless, we were able to carry out the counteroffensive. Success on the battlefield was not easy, but Ukraine has taken serious and forward steps." He called for continued U.S. military support to counter Russia's aggression and emphasized that he has a clear plan for moving forward, though he refrained from publicly detailing these plans. Biden had previously promised that U.S. support for Ukraine would continue "for as long as it takes," but on Tuesday, during the joint press conference with Zelensky, he stated that the U.S. would continue to supply Ukraine with vital weapons and equipment "as long as it can." Since Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Congress has allocated over $110 billion in aid to Kyiv. However, since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, no new funding for Ukraine has been approved. Last week, the White House informed Congress that after the current calendar year, the government would no longer have funding for additional weapons for Ukraine. Zelensky's visit to the U.S. comes as he seeks further assistance; Republicans prioritize U.S. border security. This is Zelensky's third trip to the U.S. since the start of the war in Ukraine; reports indicate that 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the war. Zelensky has called for continued financial support from Congress to counter Russia and urged Congress not to play into Russia's hands. The G7 leaders emphasized their support for Ukraine, and the U.S. announced a new "arms package" for Kyiv. Zelensky canceled a virtual meeting with U.S. Congress members.