Dec 21, 2022, 12:45 PM EST
Zelenskyy has landed in the US
A U.S. official confirms to ABC News that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has landed in the U.S
-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky
Ukrainian Presidential Press Ser/via Reuters
Ukraine's Zelenskyy tells Congress: 'We are united ... the entire free world'
Earlier Wednesday, Zelenskyy met with President Joe Biden at the White House.
Last Updated: December 22, 2022, 7:54 AM EST
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a dramatic visit to Washington Wednesday -- his first known trip outside Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February.
He met with President Joe Biden at the White House and later addressed Congress as lawmakers are set to vote on $45 billion more in emergency aid as part of a larger spending package. Biden on Wednesday also announced the U.S. will send Ukraine a Patriot anti-missile battery to defend against devastating Russian attacks.
In a virtual address to U.S. lawmakers back in March, Zelenskyy emotionally pleaded for more aggressive measures to help fight the war. Invoking key American tragedies, including Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11 attacks, Zelenskyy told members at the time, "Just remember it … Our country experiences the same every day right now."
Here is how the story developed:
- Dec 21, 2022, 8:43 PM EST
- Dec 21, 2022, 8:21 PM EST
- Dec 21, 2022, 8:23 PM EST
- Dec 21, 2022, 7:53 PM EST
- Dec 21, 2022, 7:00 PM EST
- Dec 21, 2022, 5:48 PM EST
All times Eastern.
Dec 21, 2022, 12:55 PM EST
Blinken announces more military aid to Ukraine, bringing total to $21.9B
Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally announced the authorization of a $1 billion drawdown package for Ukraine. He added that the Department of Defense will provide an additional $850 million in security assistance, bringing the total of this latest influx to $1.85 billion.
That brings the administration's military support for Ukraine to an "unprecedented" total of $21.9 billion, Blinken noted.
The latest round of military support includes a Patriot missile defense system and precision bomb kits that will turn dumb bombs into smart bombs guided by GPS coordinates toward their targets.
More information about the new weapons systems being sent to Ukraine can be read here.
Blinken's announcement comes as Congress is working to pass a bill that would provide $45 billion more in military, economic and humanitarian assistance.
-ABC News' Shannon Crawford
Dec 21, 2022, 12:27 PM EST
'Significant' security measures in place at Capitol
Zelenskyy’s trip to Capitol Hill will be similar to State of the Union preparations because of the high-level nature of the address. Security officials at the most senior levels of government are "very" concerned about the prospect of something happening tonight, domestically or abroad, one source told ABC News.
According to an email sent to staff at the Capitol and obtained by ABC News, security measures will be "significant." The email says only staff and members will be allowed in the House wing past a certain time.
Another official said, “We are very cognizant that Russia has assets in this country and might try to do something. We know what is at stake.”
The source said the U.S. is aware that early on in the conflict the Russians apparently plotted to kill Zelenskyy. The official expressed concern that news of Zelensky’s visit broke so early about him coming to the United States. It would have been much better, he said, if our adversaries had less time, not more time, to think about doing something and to move assets and operatives around.
-ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas and Luke Barr
Dec 21, 2022, 12:19 PM EST
Secret Service leading security for Zelenskyy’s trip
Zelenskyy's trip to Washington is being treated as a mini-state visit -- a visit with extraordinary security implications, according to multiple sources. Hundreds of law enforcement and intelligence officials have been activated for this visit with the U.S. Secret Service tasked as the lead agency.
"From the moment he lands and walks down those stairs of his plane, he will have a Secret Service security detail," one official tells ABC News. "He will have that detail until he gets on the plane to leave."
TVN24/AFP via Getty Images
Secret Service is also consulting with the Capitol Police, CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies about the security environment. One source told ABC News every Capitol Police officer is on standby.
-ABC News' Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas and Luke Barr
