Brussels: Europe and the Arabs - agencies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left Kyiv on Wednesday for the United States, on an official visit.
Zelensky said - in a tweet on his personal page via (Twitter) - "On my way to the United States to enhance the flexibility and defense capabilities of Ukraine .. In particular, US President Joe Biden and I will discuss cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. I will also deliver a speech in Congress and hold a number of bilateral meetings.
The press service of the Ukrainian President indicated that Zelensky left for the United States after visiting the outposts of the Ukrainian defenders in Pakhmut on December 20.
The press service said that Zelensky will meet today in Washington with US President Joe Biden to discuss comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, especially with regard to strengthening Ukraine's resilience and defense capabilities, supporting its sovereignty and restoring its territorial integrity.
Zelensky will also address a joint session of the US Congress and hold a number of bilateral meetings.
On December 19, the US Senate Appropriations Committee issued the comprehensive appropriations bill for fiscal year 2023 amounting to $1.7 trillion, which includes, in particular, $44.9 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine and NATO allies.
It is noteworthy that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the front line in the city of "Bakhmut" in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, where fierce battles have been taking place for months.
The office of the Ukrainian president said - according to the British (Sky News) channel, on Tuesday, that Zelensky met, during his visit, with military personnel and decorated soldiers.
It should be noted that fierce fighting has been taking place in the city of "Bakhmut" since last August, and Bakhmut remained in the hands of the Ukrainians during the war, which lasted for nearly 10 months, which thwarted Moscow's goal of controlling Donetsk Province, which is part of the Donbass region bordering Russia.
Capturing Bakhmut would sever Ukrainian supply lines and open a path for Russian forces to advance towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, two major Ukrainian strongholds in the province.
On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin visited the headquarters of the Russian forces in the area of the military operation in Ukraine on December 16.
A member of the State Duma, Andrei Gorolev, wrote earlier on Telegram that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army visited the area of the special military operation in Ukraine.
Peskov told the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, in response to an inquiry about the Russian deputy's statements: "If Gorolev meant the headquarters that Putin visited on Friday, yes, he was there."
Peskov announced, earlier, that President Putin spent the entire Friday at the headquarters of the Russian military operation, and was briefed on the progress of the fighting, and heard from the military command a full report on the progress of the operation, and also held separate meetings with field commanders.