Ukraine war: Zelenskyy heading to Washington to meet US counterpart Joe Biden
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing to visit Washington DC on Wednesday in his first known trip outside the country since Russia's full-scale invasion in late February.
The Ukrainian leader confirmed he was "on his way" to the US capital in a tweet.
"On my way to the US to strengthen resilience and defence capabilities of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.
"In particular, (US President Joe Biden) and I will discuss cooperation between Ukraine and the US. I will also have a speech at the Congress and a number of bilateral meetings."
Zelenskyy's visit could still be called off at the last minute due to security concerns, congressional sources told AP.
The visit to Washington is set to include an address to Congress on Capitol Hill and a meeting with President Joe Biden.
It comes as lawmakers are set to vote on a year-end spending package that includes about $45 billion (€42.4bn) in emergency assistance to Ukraine and as the US prepares to send Patriot surface-to-air missiles to the country to help stave off Russia's invasion.
The trip comes a day after Zelenskyy made a daring and dangerous trip to what he called the hottest spot on the 1,300-kilometre front line, the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine's contested Donetsk province, where he praised Ukrainian troops for their "courage, resilience and strength" as artillery boomed in the background.
The Ukrainian leader told the troops he passed through Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkivka to reach Bakhmut in an unannounced trip that appeared designed to show Moscow's failure to capture the city and dishearten the Russians trying to surround it.
"Bakhmut Fortress. Our people. Unconquered by the enemy. Who with their bravery prove that we will endure and will not give up what's
Read more on euronews.com
