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 21, 2022, 5:48 PM 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."

Dec 21, 2022, 5:48 PM EST

Biden defends sending Patriot missile defense system: 'Not escalatory'

President Biden defended the decision to send a Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine and denied the move was escalatory.

"It's a defensive system. It's a defensive weapon system. It's not escalatory, it's defensive," Biden said. "We'd love to not have them use it. Just stop the attacks," he said, referring to Russia.

President Joe Biden listens as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Dec. 21, 2022.
Andrew Harnik/AP

Zelenskyy delicately added that he may call on the U.S. to send another Patriot missile in the near future, prompting laughter.

"We're working on it," Biden said with a smile.

Zelenskyy said, "We are in war. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. That is my appreciation."

Dec 21, 2022, 5:35 PM EST

Training Ukrainian troops on Patriot system could take months, official says

The training of Ukrainian troops on the Patriot missile battery could take "several months," according to a senior defense official who briefed reporters this afternoon.

"I can just say that the training will begin very soon," the official said, noting the "Ukrainians will have to complete the training in order to be able to field the system and it's the Ukrainians who are operating the system."

The Patriot missile system and JDAM kits to convert "dumb bombs" to "smart bombs" are included in the latest round of military aid to Ukraine. Ukraine has been asking for the advanced air defense system since shortly after Russia's invasion began.

The official would not provide any concrete timelines, telling reporters: "We also would obviously want to be really, really careful for operational security reasons to not you know, not be overly precise on a date, even once we have it."

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

Dec 21, 2022, 5:27 PM EST

Zelenskyy’s message to Americans: 'We will win'

Zelenskyy was asked by a reporter what his message is to the American people ahead of his address to U.S. lawmakers later this evening.

"I think I will tell you very simple things which are very important for me," Zelenskyy responded. "And I think so that we have the same values and the same understanding of the life, the sense of the life. My message: I wish you peace."

"And I wish you to see your children alive and adult," Zelenskyy continued. "And I wish you to see your children when they will go to universities, and to see their children. I think that is the main thing, what I can wish you."

Zelenskyy said the U.S. and Ukraine are fighting for "common victory against this tyranny" and predicted, "We will win."

"I really want win together," he said, before slightly amending his words: "Not 'want.' Sorry. I'm sure."

Dec 21, 2022, 5:21 PM EST

Zelenskyy confident of continued support 'regardless of changes in the Congress'

At the top of their joint news conference, Zelenskyy again thanked Biden, Congress and the American people for providing defense and aide to Ukraine against Russia, which he called a "terrorist country."

"This visit to the United States became really a historic one for our relations with the United States and the American leadership," Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens to President Joe Biden speak during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Dec. 21, 2022.
Andrew Harnik/AP

"I have good news returning home," he continued, raising the new nearly $2 billion aid package. "This is a very important step to create a secure airspace for Ukraine, and that's the only way we would be able to deprive the terrorist country and terror attack."

Zelenskyy said "regardless of changes in the Congress," he believes there will be support for Ukraine, showing his apparent knowledge of resistance from House Republicans.

"We need to survive this winter, we need to protect our people, and we need to be very specific in this area. This is a key humanitarian issue for us right now. This is the survival issue," he said. "We are discussing sanctions and legal pressure on the terrorist country of Russia. Russia needs to be held accountable for everything it does against us, against our people, against Europe, and the whole free world."

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