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Speaker 1

00:01

Now, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington, D.C., making his case for the United States to offer more aid to support his country's fight against the Russian invasion. The deal has been deadlocked in Congress over a row about more funding for U.S. Border security. President Zelensky has met leaders in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, and he'll later travel across to the White House for talks with President Biden.

Speaker 1

00:26

Well, we're joined now by our correspondent in North America, Nomiya Iqbal. Always good to talk to you, Nomiya. So, we saw President Zelensky arrive to Capitol Hill just a few moments ago. What happens now?

Speaker 2

00:41

What a difference a year makes. I remember last year when he arrived here to make his first speech to Congress. He was treated like a rock star.

Speaker 2

00:49

People applauded him. They pledged their support. They were very optimistic about the spring offensive and saying that they would do whatever it takes to help Ukraine win. But, as I say, what a difference a year makes.

Speaker 2

01:00

He now comes to Congress, where support for him, particularly amongst Republicans, is really fading away. And he's come here, as you said, to make that case, to continue supporting Ukraine. You have got this spending package that's stalled in Congress, which would see more than $60 billion be sent to Ukraine. And he's making that case.

Speaker 2

01:22

So, he has met all 100 senators. Have a listen to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and what he had to say after that meeting.

Speaker 3

01:31

It was a very powerful meeting. President Zelensky made it so clear how he needs help, but if he gets the help he can win this war. And he outlined in some great detail, A, the kind of help he needs and how it will help him win.

Speaker 3

01:49

Even many of our Republican colleagues talked about we are winning this war, and if we get the help that – if he gets the help he needs, he will win. On the other hand, he made it clear, and we all made it clear, that if we lose, Putin wins. And this will be very, very dangerous for the United States. So we cannot let Putin influence through any surrogate what we need to do for Ukraine.

Speaker 3

02:17

He also made 1 other point, he needs the aid quickly. If we don't give the aid quickly several things will happen. First the military needs, but second Europe and many other allies will say what is going on here, they're not giving them the aid.

Speaker 4

02:34

In Washington, here's the Paris general election...

Speaker 2

02:37

Well, that argument is 1 that's just not working for Republicans. We spoke to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham after that meeting, and he was hard-line about it when we said, does it make a difference that Zelensky, who is a wartime leader, has come here to make the case? He said, Nope, nope, nope.

Speaker 2

02:56

And he said, to quote the senator, that he believes that Zelensky is being used by Democrats. So, Zelensky has quite the challenge and as you mentioned there, he is going to meet the Speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson, and then he is going to the White House to talk to President Biden.

Speaker 1

03:16

Normia, We are less than a year away from the next presidential election. Is politics playing a part in all of this?

Speaker 2

03:26

I think it probably is. Zelensky is coming with a powerful message and we heard that from Chuck Schumer which is we need this money, we need it now, if we don't get it we will not win the war in Ukraine, we will not beat Russia and Vladimir Putin will become a nightmare for everyone. That's a pretty powerful message.

Speaker 2

03:47

But Republicans have a powerful message to send back, which is about border security. Border security, US-Mexico, is an issue that has confounded lawmakers here for decades. It's an incredibly contentious issue and it's 1 that matters to the American public. The Republicans are saying you care about your security, we care about our security, we care about security on the border.

Speaker 2

04:09

That is a powerful argument to make to the American electorate. I think it is fair to say that domestic politics is playing a huge part in this discussion.

Speaker 1

04:21

Thank you for joining us. We can now go to our correspondent in Kyiv, Jessica Parker. Good to talk to you as well.

Speaker 1

04:32

How essential is this funding to the Ukrainian counter-offensive?

Speaker 4

04:40

Hugely crucial. You ask in terms of how crucial is the Ukrainian counter-offensive, It is not clear that the counter-offensive is happening in terms of on the land at the moment. Recently we have heard President Zelensky talk about a new phase of the war.

Speaker 4

04:56

There seems to be more emphasis on defence and fortifications along existing lines. Winter, as you can see clearly has arrived across Ukraine but longer term it is really crucial if you look at the statistics America is by far and away Ukraine's single biggest backer so far in terms of military aid no European ally or country really comes close in that regard, although the EU has donated a lot of economic assistance. And when you speak to people here, just people in the streets or officials as well, it's not like they turn around and say to you, oh, well, if USAID doesn't come through, then, you know, we'll find a way forward. I mean, of course, they will keep fighting, but actually the attitude much more seems to be, we're counting on that USAID, we hope it will come through, we have faith they will find a way forward.

Speaker 4

05:44

There is a sense it is almost incomprehensible at the moment for Ukrainians to think that aid could start to fade away.

Speaker 1

05:50

Just briefly, Jessica, I want to pick up on what you just said about speaking to people in Ukraine. What is the wider mood at the moment about how the war is going?

Speaker 4

06:02

It is a really difficult time, actually. I think It is fair to say, speaking to people, it feels like the most difficult time since around the start of the actual invasion itself. A few reasons for that, briefly, the counter-offensive is seen to have faltered, the world's attention has been diverted by what's happening in Israel and Gaza and as well there is this deep concern about wavering Western aid because it isn't just the US there's also been some struggles as well ongoing struggles to approve some economic aid from the European Union.

Speaker 4

06:33

And that looks like it's all going to come to a head on Thursday at a summit in Brussels.