Zelensky Confronts Greater Pushback In D.C. --- Ukraine's president faces concerns from some in GOP about 'open-ended' aid.

"WASHINGTON -- Volodymyr Zelensky got the pomp and circumstance of a close ally visiting Washington, but intimate meetings with U.S. leaders couldn't mask the new reality that Ukraine's comflict with Russia is proving a tougher sell to his Western backers.

The Ukrainian president's visit on Thursday, his second to the capital in nine months, has served as a de facto referendum on the conflict among Republican lawmakers who have questioned how much military aid the U.S. can give to Ukraine, and how effectively it is able to monitor that assistance.

What had been a bipartisan alliance to combat Russia by putting billions of dollars in military and other assistance into Kyiv's hands has become a more partisan exercise -- now linked to negotiations to avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of September, with the GOP-controlled House paralyzed by infighting over spending when money is scarce.

Meanwhile, President Biden hasn't yet approved plans to send ATACMS long-range missiles, which Zelensky has said could make a significant difference in the slow-moving counteroffensive, as winter and potential deadlock on the battlefield looms.

Intertwined with those contentious negotiations in Washington are rising concerns in European capitals about the conflict, particularly if Washington's support shows signs of flagging. While European backing for Ukraine generally remains solid, cracks are starting to surface as weapons stockpiles from some allies dwindle and others hesitate to fill the gaps.

Ukraine and Poland have clashed over Poland's recent decision to ban Ukrainian grain -- a move meant to appease Polish farmers ahead of next month's national election. An angry response by Zelensky to that decision has riled Warsaw, spurring Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to say that Poland isn't currently transferring its own weapons to Ukraine. Later Thursday, President Andrzej Duda of Poland told private Polish broadcaster TVN that his government will continue to provide Ukraine with howitzers, ammunition, mine-clearing vehicles, and possibly other military equipment.

Those developments raised the stakes for Zelensky's whirlwind Washington visit. He met with House leaders and all 100 senators in private meetings on Capitol Hill, making his case for more assistance as Ukraine tries to sustain momentum on the battlefield.

When Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska, arrived at the White House Thursday afternoon, they shook hands with Biden and first lady Jill Biden. Asked how important the visit was, Biden said: "Very important."

Speaking in the Oval Office ahead of their meeting, Biden said the U.S. supports a "just and lasting peace" and said the people of Ukraine have shown enormous bravery. Zelensky thanked the U.S. for military aid to "combat Russia" and said he looked forward to a special emphasis on air defense in their conversation.

At a later meeting with American reporters, Zelensky said Ukraine would continue its counteroffensive through the winter because a pause would only allow Russian President Vladimir Putin time to rebuild the country's military and fortify positions inside Ukraine. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces would continue to fight for Bakhmut and had a plan to "fight" for two other cities, which he declined to name.

Near the conclusion of Zelensky's visit, the Biden administration announced a new $325 million assistance package for Ukraine -- from previously approved congressional aid -- but some Republican lawmakers remain staunchly opposed to approving another tranche of billions of dollars more in aid for Kyiv once the current funds run out. The latest package includes air-defense interceptors, artillery rounds, cluster munitions, tactical vehicles and spare parts. Zelensky said the package has "exactly what our soldiers need now."

When reporters asked him about the prospects of Congress approving more aid, Biden stepped in to answer.

"I am counting the good judgment of the United States Congress," Biden said. "There is no alternative."

Earlier in the day, wearing his trademark olive drab sweater, Zelensky was escorted to and from meetings with lawmakers by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky).

"We had great dialogue," Zelensky said, but didn't answer questions about any additional aid commitments.

Schumer was more blunt: "If we don't get the aid, we will lose a conflict," he said.

A group of lawmakers said in a letter that it is rejecting Biden's request for an additional $24 billion in aid. The lawmakers said they have concerns about the more than $100 billion in funding Congress already has approved, complaining that the administration supports an "open-ended commitment" to Ukraine and criticizing what they said is an unclear strategy.

The letter was signed by 23 House members and six senators, led by Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio) and Rep. Chip Roy (R., Texas), and addressed to Shalanda Young, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

While the White House and bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress support further aid for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, the small group of dissenters would be enough to block or at least delay procedural steps needed to bring any Ukraine funding measure to the Senate and House floors for up-or-down votes.

U.S. taxpayers need to know more about where their money has gone, the GOP lawmakers said in their letter. "How is the counteroffensive going? Are the Ukrainians any closer to victory than they were 6 months ago? What is our strategy, and what is the president's exit plan?" they wrote. "It would be an absurd abdication of congressional responsibility to grant this request without knowing the answers to these questions."

Zelensky's appeal for continued military support from the U.S. includes the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, and drones that Ukrainian forces could use against Russian logistics and other targets behind the heavily fortified Russian front lines.

The importance of the ATACMS to Ukraine has grown because supplies of other long-range missiles from allied nations, notably France and the U.K., are shrinking.

One of the obstacles in the U.S. to securing more military aid for Ukraine has been rising resistance to the conflict among Republican voters. Former President Donald Trump, who is dominating most Republican presidential primary polls, has criticized the amount of U.S. spending on Ukraine.

At his meeting with senators, Zelensky was introduced by Schumer and by McConnell, and then made remarks, standing by a podium where he asked senators for ATACMS and F-16s. He also took questions from both leaders and from Republican and Democratic senators, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.).

After the meeting, Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) said Zelensky's appeal failed to persuade him. "I'd love to see Ukraine win. That's not going to happen," Johnson said.

Sen. Blumenthal said his fear is that the aid will get caught up in the dysfunction that is plaguing the House -- where insurgent Republicans have blocked multiple procedural votes, preventing House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) from bringing even conservative spending bills to the floor unless he gives in to a wide-ranging list of demands." [1]

Mr. Zelensky will run around until he fills up suitcases with 100 dollars bills, like our last Afghanistan president did. Then these corrupted presidents suddenly run away from their country forever. 

1. Zelensky Confronts Greater Pushback In D.C. --- Ukraine's president faces concerns from some in GOP about 'open-ended' aid. Wise, Lindsay; Gordon, Michael R; Lubold, Gordon.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 22 Sep 2023: A.1.