Volodymyr Zelensky set to meet Joe Biden in Washington in his second trip since war
Volodymyr Zelensky is likely going to meet Joe Biden at the White House and also visit Capitol Hill in a diplomatic trip to Washington next week, suggested several media reports. The Ukrainian president’s second visit to the US since Russia’s invasion comes at a time Congress is mulling Mr Biden’s request to assist Ukraine with as much as $24bn (£19bn) in military and humanitarian aid. The visit also comes when Western leaders have defended Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia, that officials under the condition of anonymity have said has been slow to take off. On Friday, Ukraine announced it had liberated a village near Bakhmut in a “lightning operation” after fierce fighting with Russian troops amid its counteroffensive. Mr Zelensky will meet the US president at the White House next Thursday, an administration official said on the condition of anonymity. Two congressional aides confirmed the war-time president’s trip to the Capitol. The two leaders could also attend a meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York to be held on 18-19 September. The White House National Security Council, however, has declined to comment on Mr Zelensky’s plans. That includes the likely meeting between the two presidents at the White House. This will be Mr Zelensky’s second visit to the US and also be only the second time he has ever visited any country abroad since the invasion in February last year. He had made a grand visit to the US in December last year and delivered an address to the US House of Representatives. In a bid to boost Ukraine’s military capabilities, Mr Biden sought a package of $13.1bn in additional military aid and another $8.5bn for humanitarian support, which also includes $2.3bn for financing and to catalyse donors through the World Bank. However, he is faced with pushback from conservative Republican lawmakers who have been calling for broad federal spending cuts and some of those allied with Donald Trump as they specifically look to stop money to Ukraine. The Congress is facing increasing strife over providing additional funding for Ukraine as the war is well into its second year and working to pass its annual appropriations bills before the 30 September deadline to keep the US government running. Mr Zelensky is likely slated to deliver a speech to the UNGA and also reportedly looking to hold meetings with other visiting world leaders. This has been claimed by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he planned to meet Mr Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN meetings. Additionally, the US is looking to impose new sanctions on more than 150 individuals and entities related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “The US was continuing our relentless work to target Russia’s military supply chains and deprive (Russian president Vladimir) Putin of the equipment, technology, and services he needs to wage his barbaric war on Ukraine,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. Read More Isolated Putin and Kim lay groundwork for second summit – as pair warned over ‘price to pay’ for cooperation Ukraine-Russia war – live: Kyiv is pushing ‘Putin forces back’ says UK as damage to Crimea fleet revealed Ukraine liberates village near Bakhmut amid Russian losses in east and south Ukraine ‘holds initiative’ in counteroffensive against Russia, says UK military chief Kim Jong Un stops to see a fighter jet factory as Russia and North Korea are warned off arms deals
1970-01-01 08:00
Laos deports human rights lawyer who was fleeing state pressure back to China
A human rights lawyer who was arrested in Laos has been deported back to China despite pleas from rights groups and United Nations experts for his release
1970-01-01 08:00
FPL Gameweek 5: Top AI captain picks
AI's top captain picks in Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 5, including Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah. Powered by Fantasy Football Hub.
1970-01-01 08:00
India's Nipah virus outbreak: what do we know so far?
Authorities in India are scrambling to contain a rare outbreak of Nipah, a virus spread from animals to humans that causes deadly fever with...
1970-01-01 08:00
‘We’re going to hell’: Donald Trump reveals to Megyn Kelly why he is running for president again
Donald Trump says he still wants to 'make America great again' by running for the 2024 presidential elections
1970-01-01 08:00
How tall is Kendrick Lamar? Grammy Award winner was once referred to as K-Dot
Kendrick Lamar, affectionately known as K-Dot, has been a subject of intrigue among fans
1970-01-01 08:00
No decision on EIB presidency expected this week - German Finance Minister
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said at the informal EU finance ministers meeting on Friday
1970-01-01 08:00
China's August land sale revenue falls for 20th straight month
BEIJING China's government land sales revenue fell for the 20th consecutive month in August, data from the finance
1970-01-01 08:00
'Today’ hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Willie Geist stunned after Ice-T makes NSFW remarks about wife Coco Austin
'Today’ hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Willie Geist were left stunned when Ice-T revealed secret nicknames he and his wife Coco Austin had
1970-01-01 08:00
Chinese Developer Sino-Ocean Suspends Offshore Debt Payments
Chinese state-linked developer Sino-Ocean Group Holding Ltd. has suspended payment on all its offshore borrowings, citing tight liquidity,
1970-01-01 08:00
European shares set to end week higher after ECB signals end to rate hikes
By Bansari Mayur Kamdar European shares extended their rally on Friday, on track to end the week higher,
1970-01-01 08:00
Scientists have discovered a fly that can't fly
Scientist have discovered a fly that... can't fly. In December 2021, the John Midgley and Burgert Muller from the Diversity of Pollinating Diptera in South African Biodiversity Hotspots project went to Lesotho, the only country in the world that has its entire territory located at an altitude of 1,000 metres and higher to see what they could find. At the Afriski mountain resort, they found 51 male specimens of Atherimorpha latipennis (a species discovered in 1956 but whose female had never been described) and a for the first time a female belonging to the same species which couldn't get off the ground. “It’s not unheard of for only the female of a species to be flightless,” says Midgley. “But there were no examples in this fly’s family, let alone its genus.” Martin Hauser, a senior dipterologist at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, who was not involved in the research, told the Guardian: “Active flight has only originated four times in the last three billion years, so it’s always interesting when a species loses the ability to fly. It isn’t super surprising to find flightless species. But it is remarkable when the first case of flightlessness is reported in a family.” Scientists could only make educated guesses about why the female had lost the ability to fly. Despite it being much faster than walking, allowing flies to escape predators. “flight is also costly,” said Midgley. “You have to grow wings, and it uses a lot more energy than walking.” “For the males it is worth flying around and being able to search a larger area for females,” said Hauser. “Even if, while flying, they are exposed to birds and other predators, and risk being blown off the mountain and ending up in a hot valley with no females.” Meanwhile, there are other species that can't fly like ostriches, kiwi and emus. It is thought they evolved to lose flight after the dinosaurs became extinct because there were no predators big enough to hunt them. Fly - you had one job... Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
