Staff report
Vilnius, Lithuania — July 12, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his appreciation for the support received from the United States and NATO before a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.
Zelensky emphasized the challenges faced by the Ukrainian people in a full-scale war and thanked President Biden for standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine since the conflict began.
“It’s really a difficult job for our people: soldiers, civilians, moderns, fathers and children to apply hope in their lives. And thank you very much that all these days you are with us, I mean, you and Americans, all Americans and Congress. Thank you, Mr. President, that you are with us shoulder to shoulder from the first days of the full-scale war. We appreciate this very much,” Zelensky said.
During the meeting, Zelensky also addressed the issue of weapon support, acknowledging the difficult political decision made by the U.S. regarding cluster munitions. He pointed out that Russia had been using such weapons since the early days of its occupation of Crimea and in the Donbas region.
“Your decision will help us save lives, and that’s why my appreciation for that. And I didn’t hear from all the parts of the world when Russia began to use it, I didn’t hear the same countries criticize Russia. I think that it was very useful to them,” Zelensky stated.
Zelensky expressed his gratitude to the United States for the significant support received, amounting to over 43 billion dollars, emphasizing that the money was not solely for fighting but also for the preservation of lives. He further highlighted the role played by Ukraine in safeguarding Europe and the world.
“We understand that it’s more than 43 billion as of today. It’s big support, and I understand that it’s all your money, but you have to know that you spend this money for not just fighting. We spend this money for our lives. And I think that we saved lives for Europe, for all the world,” Zelensky emphasized.
Following the meeting with Biden, Zelensky described it as “a very good, powerful meeting” and commended President Biden. The discussions reportedly exceeded the planned duration and covered various topics, including long-term support, weapons, and politics. Zelensky expressed optimism, stating that they could see a path to ending the war with a collective victory.
“The meeting was at least twice as long as planned, and it was as meaningful as it needed to be. If the protocol had not stopped the meeting, we would have talked even longer. All the topics. Long-term support. Weapons. Politics. We clearly see how to end this war with our common victory. Thank you, Mr. President!” Zelensky said.
