The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), has denied a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address a joint session of Congress, NBC News reported on Sept. 21.
McCarthy said that Zelenskyy had requested to address a joint session, but Congress did not have time amid a stressful legislative week. Thus, a meeting was arranged for Zelenskyy with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. According to McCarthy, Congress had previously organized similar engagements for Italian and UK prime ministers during their visits.
A journalist from Punchbowl News later said that following a meeting with Zelenskyy, McCarthy was noncommittal about the Ukraine aid package proposed by the White House.
On Sept. 19, McCarthy did not specify whether he would approve additional funds to assist Ukraine during his meeting with Zelenskyy this week. He stated that he had “questions” for the Ukrainian president.
“Was Zelenskyy elected to Congress? Is he our president? I don’t have to promise him anything,” the speaker said at the time.
“I have a question for him. Where is the accountability regarding the funds we have spent? What is his plan for victory? I think these are the questions that the Americans also want to know.”
Previously, The New York Times reported that the Democrat Majority Leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, had organized a private session at the Capitol for Zelenskyy with participation of all 100 senators. Those members of the House of Representatives who wish to hear Zelenskyy’s point of view will need to meet him outside of Capitol Hill — at the National Archives.
Zelenskyy’s visit to the United States occurs amidst protests by dozens of Republicans against U.S. President Joe Biden’s request to allocate $24 billion for additional military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
“I have a question for him. Where is the accountability regarding the funds we have spent? What is his plan for victory? I think these are the questions that the Americans also want to know.”
Is this man, mad? Does he really think Ukraine are going to tell him, or anyone else their plans for victory. Knowing how secure US intelligence is, russia will know straight away.
Other countries are very wary about sharing intel with the US because they are little more than a leaky sieve.
McCarthy is a borderline trumper.
McCarthy is in a world of shit right now. None of this surprises me.
My biggest concern is our brave soldiers. Is it wise to reject any concessions with such shitty western support? The boys are people, fathers, sons and brothers. As much as i understand Zelensky’s uncompromising position, but won’t Ukraine continue to waste valuable lives while the West keeps betraying her? The Free Territories should be the biggest concern instead of the occupied ones. Negotiations could prevent an even bigger disaster. Yet the West is free to grow a spine and help a full liberation. Unfortunately Ukraine is being treated like a bitch, shrinking my hopes for better.
Negotiations with russia will end up with Ukraine being wiped off the map, along with all it’s citizens. If the West let evil win, they are done for.
But if Ukraine can’t liberate everything and the West refuses to help, what is the alternative? A free Ukraine, even if smaller is a historic mission!
Ukraine will never be free as long as Russia are free to attack Ukraine. Either Russia is defeated or Ukraine will cease to exist.
And you seriously believe the West will make it happen? I’m asking you this as a friend and a brother who lived in Ukraine. You guys always refer to what is right and lawful, but this shit goes deeper. Anyway, i respect your unbreakable optimism and patriotism. But after almost a decade of humiliations i lost faith that the West wants Ukraine to win.
Ukraine have no options. We all know that any agreements with the West or russia are not worth the paper they are written on.
Still this requires Ukraine being able to win.
A Ukraine that gives up territory is not feasible, I think the chance that it will be eventually defeated is close to 100%.
If not this year, then next year or in 10 years.
Russia has way more resources than Ukraine has in the long run.
Ukraine now has a historic chance to settle the issue once and for all and become a NATO member.
Without NATO member and unrestricted access to the world seas, Ukraine will be defeated at some point in time.
Either Ukraine goes full maximalist or it will become part of Russia. That is, in my view of course and not everyone will agree with me, the sad reality.
But to go 100% requires arms Ukraine does not have, Bert.
No comment.
So McCarthy wants to know Ukraine’s plan for victory, so he says. Well McCaul found out by asking Zelensky.
The congressman asked Zelenskyy, “What is your plan for winning and what do you need to win?”
“In particular, these are two things: aviation – the F-16s and ATACMS. They need long-range artillery to carry out strikes on Crimea, where Iranian drones are launched from; they don’t have it now,” he said.