U.S. President Joe Biden acknowledged Wednesday that he was «delighted» with the visit of his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zelenski, with whom he warned that he has «a lot to discuss» in the framework of their face-to-face meeting in Washington.
In a message on his social networks, Biden wished President Zelenski a good trip in what is already the first occasion in which the Ukrainian president has left the country since the outbreak of the war, back in the last days of February.
The U.S. authorities have invited Zelenski to visit the country taking advantage of the fact that the war in Ukraine seems to be entering «a new phase» and it seems that this occasion, before winter, was a «good time» for the two presidents to meet face to face.
This was stated by the communications spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, John Kirby, in an interview for CNN, where he acknowledged that, beyond economic or military matters, Biden and Zelenski will also address how an agreement with Russia could be reached to end hostilities.
«I have no doubt that they will talk about President Zelenski’s concept of a ‘just peace’ and what it looks like, what its components are and how we help Ukraine get to this point,» said Kirby, who, however, recognizes that Moscow does not seem to be in favor of sitting down to negotiate.
For the senior White House official, Russian President Vladimir Putin «is not interested in diplomacy,» but «quite the opposite.» «He is interested in killing more Ukrainian civilians,» he denounced.
Regarding the obvious dangers Zelenski faces in leaving the country by air, Kirby assured that the U.S. authorities are working «hand in hand» with Ukraine to ensure that the transfer is done «safely» both on the outward and return journeys.
As confirmed by the White House, Biden is scheduled to welcome Zelenski at the presidential residence at 14.00 hours (six hours more in mainland Spain) to then hold a bilateral meeting and two hours later appear before the media.
Later, at around 6:15 p.m. (after midnight on the Spanish mainland), Zelenski will arrive at the U.S. Capitol to address a joint meeting of the Senate and the House of Representatives an hour later.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
