Biden and Harris both meet with Zelensky after Trump snubs Ukrainian leader

President Joe Biden on Thursday said the billions of dollars of defense aid he has authorized for Ukraine will strengthen Kyiv’s hand “in future negotiations” as he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office for what could be the final time during his presidency.

Sitting alongside Zelensky, Biden thanked the Ukrainian leader for sharing his own plan for victory in his country’s nearly three-year-old war against Russian invading forces. He added that it was important “to strengthen Ukraine’s position on the battlefield” by releasing all of the aid approved by Congress in the supplemental defense aid package he signed into law earlier this year. The billions of dollars worth of defense assistance will be delivered to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in January.

He also told Zelensky of the importance of supporting Ukraine’s “long-term” success, including through eventual paths to European Union and NATO membership as well as through ensuring Kyiv retains “sufficient capabilities to against future Russian aggression.”

“I'm proud of the steps we've taken [and] of our partnership on these fronts,” Biden said.

“Earlier this summer, we launched the Ukraine compact with more than 20 nations committed to Ukraine's long-term security, and yesterday, with over 30 nations and the EU, we launched the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine's recovery and assets as well… These two elements are critical to how this war ends. Russia will not prevail in war. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and [we] will continue to stand by you every step of the way,” the president added.

For his part, Zelensky thanked Biden once again for his strong support over the course of the war and told the American leader