LIVE: Biden and Zelensky hold joint press conference
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Ukraine's Zelensky visits US as Russia's war continues
By Adrienne Vogt, Leinz Vales, Aditi Sangal, Rhea Mogul, Hannah Strange, Sophie Tanno, Maureen Chowdhury and Elise Hammond, CNN
Updated 5:09 p.m. ET, December 21, 2022
What we're covering
President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden are holding a news conference at the White House during the Ukrainian leader's first foreign trip since the war began. Zelensky will address a joint meeting of Congress at 7:30 p.m. ET.
In a meeting earlier Wednesday, Biden told Zelensky the US will ship the Patriot air defense missile system to Ukraine, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced will be included in an additional $1.85 billion security package for Kyiv.
President Vladimir Putin and Russia's defense minister outlined a substantial investment in many areas of the military as the war in Ukraine drags on.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi is visiting Moscow on Thursday to discuss safety at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, the UN nuclear watchdog has confirmed.
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Biden announces additional aid for Ukraine, including Patriot missile defense system
(Andrew Harnik/AP)
(Andrew Harnik/AP)
US President Joe Biden officially announced the United States will send an additional $1.8 billion package of assistance to Ukraine, which will include the Patriot missile defense system.
“Its going to take some time to complete the necessary training” to operate the system, but said the Patriot missiles will be a “critical asset” to Ukraine’s defense, Biden said Wednesday alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Biden said the United States in committed to ensuring Ukraine can “defend their country against Russia’s aggressions as long as it takes.”
The president thanked members of Congress for bipartisan support for Ukraine so far — including the newest, additional $45 billion package.
12 min ago
Biden: USAID is committing more than $374 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for Ukraine
US President Joe Biden said that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be sending more than $374 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine on Wednesday.
"Today, USAID is committing more than $374 million in urgently needed humanitarian assistance for Ukraine.This provides food and cash assistance for more than 1.5 million Ukrainian people, as well as access to health care, safe drinking water, and help stay warm in the winter for more than 2.5 million Ukrainians," Biden said during bilateral remarks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from the White House.
12 min ago
Biden says Zelensky's leadership and the strength of Ukrainians have inspired the world
(Andrew Harnik/AP)
(Andrew Harnik/AP)
US President Joe Biden said it is important for Americans and the rest of the world to continue to hear directly from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the war stretches to its 300th day — saying the people of Ukraine and Zelensky's leadership has been an inspiration.
The remarks came at a joint news conference following a bilateral meeting between the two leaders Wednesday.
"As we head into the new year, it's important for the America people and the world to hear directly from you, Mr. President, to hear about Ukraine's fight and the need to stand together through 2023," Biden said.
Biden applauded Ukrainians for their “unbreakable determination” and their “strong stand against aggression."
The US president said it was "meaningful to talk to one another in person, look each other in the eye, because leadership through this terrible crisis has inspired the Ukrainian people as you have done, Mr. President, and the American people and the entire world," Biden said.
“You will never stand alone," he added.
24 min ago
NOW: Biden and Zelensky hold joint news conference
(Pool)
(Pool)
US President Joe Biden is hosting a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
It comes after the two leaders held a bilateral meeting shortly after Zelensky arrived in Washington, DC. The visit marks Zelensky's first foreign trip since the war began.
Later today, the Ukrainian president will address members of Congress on Capitol Hill as he works to thank Americans for their support, as well as convince the US to continue providing financial and military aid. Earlier Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional $1.85 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, including the first transfer of the Patriot missile defense system.
15 min ago
Zelensky says next year "may become extremely important for Ukraine" as he meets with Biden
From CNN's Radina Gigova and Victoria Butenko
Ukrainian President Zelensky looks on during a meeting with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Zelensky looks on during a meeting with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Wednesday. (Leah Millis/Reuters)
As he meets with US President Joe Biden at the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that next year "may become extremely important for Ukraine."
"Joseph Biden, thank you for supporting our people! This visit is taking place on the eve of the new year, which may become extremely important for Ukraine. I am sure that together we can achieve significant results," Zelensky said in a Telegram post accompanied by pictures showing Zelensky, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak sitting in the Oval Office.
"Historical meeting of the leaders of Ukraine and the United States - Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Joe Biden. A great victory is ahead," said Yermak in a separate Telegram post.
1 hr 25 min ago
Ukrainian military reports substantial strikes on Russian weapons and ammunition depots
From CNN's Tim Lister and Julia Kesaieva
As President Volodymyr Zelensky began his visit to Washington, DC, the Ukrainian military reported inflicting heavy damage on Russian weapons and ammunition facilities.
The Ukrainian military's General Staff confirmed fire damage at enemy ammunition depots near Kadiivka in Luhansk region, which were targeted late last week. It said that detonations at the warehouses lasted more than 20 hours.
It also reported a strike on a Russian base in the southern region of Kherson, part of which is still occupied by Russian forces. It said that on Tuesday "the occupiers, who had amassed at the airfield near Kakhovka, Kherson region, were struck."
Frontline fighting: Elsewhere, the General Staff reported sustained Russian shelling along a wide area of the front lines in Luhansk and Donetsk, including Bakhmut, where President Zelensky visited troops on Tuesday.
The General Staff alleged that a Russian air strike on a town in the Zaporizhzhia region had hit a hospital. There was also Russian fire across the river Dnipro in Kherson, causing civilian casualties in recently liberated settlements.
1 hr 28 min ago
US official: It will take "several months" for Ukraine's forces to be trained to use Patriot air defense
From CNN's Ellie Kaufman and Oren Liebermann
It will take “several months” for Ukrainian forces to be properly trained to operate the Patriot battery system, a senior US defense official told reporters Wednesday after President Joe Biden announced the US would send a battery to Ukraine.
“Patriot does require training and we expect it will take several months to ensure Ukrainian forces have the training they need to employ it successfully,” the official said.
The Patriot air defense battery and munitions the US is sending to Ukraine — as a part of the latest Presidential Drawdown Package of security assistance — “will give Ukraine a critical long-range capability” to defend against “cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft,” the official added.
Ukraine has been asking the US and NATO allied countries for more air defense as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine. The Patriot system is one part of the air defense the US and other allies are providing, the official said.
“For air defense, there is no silver bullet. Our goal is to help Ukraine strengthen a layered integrated approach to air defense,” the official said. “Patriot will complement a range of medium and short-range capabilities that we’ve provided and that allies have provided in prior donation packages.”
1 hr 32 min ago
Expert predicts Kyiv will at best have 10 hours of electricity a day in early January
From CNN's Julia Kesaieva in Kyiv
Cars drive along a road in Kyiv during a blackout last week.
Cars drive along a road in Kyiv during a blackout last week. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)
Even in the best scenario, Kyiv is unlikely to have more than 10 hours of power a day in early January, an expert on Ukraine's electricity crisis said.
The last wave of Russian drone attacks "was focused specifically on Kyiv’s electrical grid and led to significant damage to the whole system," Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of Energy Industry Research Center, said on Ukrainian television. "Given the nature of the damage, I think that the people of Kyiv city should prepare for the fact that for the next two-three weeks, the availability of electricity for four-six hours in the house [per day] would be good news."
"Within a week and a half at the most, rather, maybe in a week, we will return to scheduled outages, in Kyiv city and the region," Kharchenko added.
Even so, he said, "at best, we will have electricity 10 hours a day, and 14 hours with no electricity" early in the new year.
While the good news was that "a large amount of equipment is coming," including mobile generation, the constant disturbance to electricity supplies has damaged small substations, he said.
"Repair crews cannot be everywhere at the same time. When deciding whether to repair something providing 30 houses versus a substation providing three houses, the choice is often made in favor of the one where more people can be connected. So there are isolated situations where people really suffer," Kharchenko explained, adding that engineers were learning how to mitigate the effects of Russian missile and drone strikes.
It is likely that some Ukrainians "will be forced to celebrate the New Year in extremely difficult conditions," he said, recommending that people link up with friends who have generators. "I think it will be more fun to be together."
2 hr 8 min ago
Biden tells Zelensky that the US will ship Patriot air defense missile system to Ukraine
From CNN's DJ Judd
Patriot missile launchers are seen at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland.
Patriot missile launchers are seen at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland. (Reuters)
US President Joe Biden welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky to the White House for a bilateral meeting Wednesday, pledging the United States would “continue to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself — particularly air defense.”
Biden told Zelensky that Americans of both political parties stand with Ukrainians and, along with allies “in Europe, Japan and other places to make sure you have the financial humanitarian and security assistance that you needed,” including a newly announced shipment of Patriot air defense missile systems.
Earlier Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional $1.85 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, including the first transfer of the Patriot missile defense system.
2 hr 12 min ago
Zelensky presents Biden with Ukrainian cross for military merit
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky presents US President Joe Biden with a Ukrainian cross for military merit in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky presents US President Joe Biden with a Ukrainian cross for military merit in the Oval Office on Wednesday. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky presented US President Joe Biden with a Ukrainian cross for military merit after both leaders spoke to reporters from the White House.
Zelensky thanked Biden and the US Congress for their support and expressed appreciation to the American people as well.
"Thank you so much, Mr. President. Of course thanks bipartisan support, thanks Congress, and thanks from our just ordinary people to your ordinary people, Americans. I really appreciate," he said.
Zelensky then presented Biden with a hero's award, which he said was passed along from a captain in the Ukrainian military fighting in the Donbas region.
"One guy who's really, really a hero, real captain, and he asked me to pass his award, and he asked me to pass his award to President Biden," Zelensky said. "He's very brave and he said give it to very brave President, and I want to give you, that is a cross for military merit."
Biden thanked Zelensky and said that he would send the Ukrainian captain a US command coin in return.
"Undeserved but much appreciated, thank you," Biden said. "Well, we have a tradition here, and I will give it to him. My son who fought in Iraq, they have what they call a command coin. Have you seen those coins we get in the battlefield? I will make sure that he gets one of those. Thank you."
2 hr 30 min ago
Biden remarks on 300 days of Russia's war in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden remarked on 300 days of Russia's war in Ukraine as he spoke to reporters on Wednesday along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Mr. President, it's good to have you back," Biden told Zelensky. "It's an honor to be by your side in the united defense against what is a brutal, brutal war waged by Putin."
"Hard to believe, 300 days going through this, and Putin has waged a brutal assault on the Ukrainians' right to exist as a nation, and the attack on innocent Ukrainian people for no reason other than to intimidate," Biden added, noting the escalated Russian attacks on energy and civil infrastructure.
Putin is "trying to use winter as a weapon," Biden said.
He reassured that Americans, along with European allies, stand with Ukraine.
2 hr 27 min ago
Zelensky will try to make case to Americans that Ukraine aid is also in US interests, former ambassador says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden walk through the White House colonnade on Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden walk through the White House colonnade on Wednesday. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
During his visit to the US, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will likely have a few points he wants to convey to US President Joe Biden, Congress and the American people, Steven Pifer, a former US ambassador to Ukraine, said.
The first of those points will likely be gratitude, Pifer said on CNN as Ukrainian president arrived in Washington, DC, Wednesday.
"The United States has been the key partner for Ukraine as it fights off this unprovoked war of aggression that Vladimir Putin launched on Ukraine back in February," he said.
Biden is set to announce an additional $1.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine during the visit, with the coveted Patriot missile systems as part of that package. Additionally, Congress is poised to sign off on another $45 billion in aid for Ukraine and NATO allies, deepening the commitment that has helped Kyiv's forces inflict an unexpectedly bloody price on Putin's forces.
That's on top of dozens of previous financial and military aid packages from the US since the war began.
Pifer said Zelensky will use his visit to make the case that this assistance needs to continue as the war drags on into the winter months. Zelensky will likely try to argue that not only is it good for Ukraine — but that fighting Russia is in US interests as well, Pifer said in his analysis.
"Going back 70 years, it's been in the US national interest to have a stable and secure Europe. If Russia wins this war, you're not going to have that kind of Europe. It's going to soak up much more time and American resources," he said.
Another point, Pifer said, is that "we don't know how far Vladimir Putin's ambitions go."
talks about Ukraine, he talks about not a sovereign country, but what he refers to as historic Russian land," Pifer said, adding that its hard for the US and other ally countries to tell if Russia would continue its aggression on other parts in the region — including some countries, like Poland, who are members of NATO.
2 hr 35 min ago
Expert: Patriot air defense systems will help Ukraine defend against Russian attacks, but "not a game changer"
From CNN's Haley Britzky
(Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
(Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Experts say that while the Patriot defense missile system will be a valuable addition to Ukraine’s air defense, it’s not a cure-all.
The Patriot’s radar system combines “surveillance, tracking, and engagement functions in one unit,” according to a description from the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS), which makes it stand out among other air defense systems. The system’s engagements with incoming aerial threats are “nearly autonomous” aside from needing a “final launch decision” from the humans operating it.
Ukraine has repeatedly asked for the US Army’s Patriot – an acronym for Phased Array Tracking Radar for intercept on Target – system, as it is considered one of the most capable long-range air defense systems on the market. And though the US did not fulfill the request for the first 10 months of the war, a senior administration official told CNN that the “reality of what is going on” on the ground in Ukraine influenced their decision to do so.
In recent weeks, the Russian military has increasingly attacked Ukraine’s power grid and infrastructure as winter approached and the temperatures dropped. Those attacks have only further fueled Ukraine’s asks for the Patriot.
But retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, former commander of US Army Europe, told CNN that there is likely some unrealistic expectations about what a Patriot battery will be able to do for Ukraine. It won’t, for example, be available to use immediately after the US agrees to provide it — it takes months to train troops on how to use the complex system, Hertling said, adding that training US troops to serve as maintainers or repairmen takes around a year. And it won’t be able to provide blanket cover for the entire country.
“These systems don’t pick up and move around the battlefield,” Hertling said. “You put them in place somewhere that defends your most strategic target, like a city, like Kyiv. If anyone thinks this is going to be a system that is spread across a 500-mile border between Ukraine and Russia, they just don’t know how the system operates.”
Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at CSIS, told CNN that the Patriot is “not a game changer” because it is “still only able to defend a relatively small piece of dirt.”
And just one battery is operated by roughly 90 soldiers, and includes computers, an engagement control system, a phased array radar, power generating equipment, and “up to eight launchers,” according to the Army.
2 hr 49 min ago
Ukrainian President Zelensky arrives at the White House
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet Ukrainian President Zelensy at the White House on Wednesday.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet Ukrainian President Zelensy at the White House on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at the White House to meet with US President Joe Biden. He was greeted by Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
The two leaders are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting.
This is Zelensky's first foreign trip since the war began. The Ukrainian president was clad in his typical green-colored cargo pants and a sweatshirt with a small insignia of Ukraine's coat of arms on it.
Later today: Zelensky will hold a news conference with Biden and address a joint meeting of Congress at 7:30 p.m. ET.
3 hr ago
US Vice President Kamala Harris will attend Zelensky's address to joint meeting of Congress
From CNN's DJ Judd
According to an updated advisory, Vice President Kamala Harris will attend Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to a joint meeting of Congress tonight at the US Capitol.
Zelensky is set to deliver the address at 7:30 p.m. ET.
2 hr 53 min ago
Zelensky says he is in Washington to thank the American people for their "much-needed support"
From CNN's Radina Gigova
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, is greeted by US chief of protocol Rufus Gifford after landing in the United States on Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, is greeted by US chief of protocol Rufus Gifford after landing in the United States on Wednesday. (Ukrainian Presidency)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he is in Washington, DC, to thank the American people, US President Joe Biden and Congress for their "much-needed support."
"I am in Washington today to thank the American people, the President and the Congress for their much-needed support. And also to continue cooperation to bring our victory closer," Zelensky said in a post on his official Telegram channel.
"I will hold a series of negotiations to strengthen the resilience and defense capabilities of Ukraine. In particular, we will discuss bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and the United States of America with US President Joseph Biden," he said.
"Next year, we must return the Ukrainian flag and freedom to our entire land, to all our people," he said.
This is Zelensky's first overseas visit since Russia invaded his country in late February.
4 hr 14 min ago
Ukrainian President Zelensky has arrived in the US
From CNN's Kevin Liptak and MJ Lee
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the United States, a source familiar with his travels tells CNN.
Zelensky landed at Joint Base Andrews, a separate source familiar said.
...it the Oval Office this afternoon for extended talks with US President Joe Biden, who will announce he is sending nearly $2 billion in additional security assistance to Ukraine, including a sophisticated new air defense system.
The two will convene a White House news conference before Zelensky addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in prime time.
4 hr 7 min ago
Tight security enforced around Zelensky’s US trip, source says
From CNN’s Matthew Chance
Tight security has been enforced around the short visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the US amid concerns that Russia wants to incapacitate the president, a source close to the Ukrainian leader told CNN on Wednesday.
According to the source, because of that ongoing threat, senior top government officials as well as embassy staff in the US were not informed about the schedule of Zelensky’s visit.
The source added that Zelensky had wanted to travel to the US for a few months, but certain factors had to be considered.
According to the source, the military risk had to be calculated to allow the Ukrainian president to make the short overseas trip without jeopardizing the military situation in the country.
Scheduling also had to be worked out with the White House to assess availability for it to happen, the source added.
The source told CNN that Zelensky did not want to travel if there had not been a significant development in the bilateral relationship between Ukraine and the United States. After confirmation of the Biden administration’s plan to send a new defense assistance package to Ukraine — which includes the Patriot missile defense systems — Zelensky viewed it as a major shift in the relationship between the two allies.
4 hr 33 min ago
US secretary of state: Patriot air defense system included in $1.85 billion security assistance for Ukraine
Form CNN's Kylie Atwood
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department in Washington, DC, on December 12. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional $1.85 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, including the first transfer of the Patriot missile defense system.
“Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, today I am authorizing our twenty-eighth drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine since August 2021. This $1 billion drawdown will provide Ukraine with expanded air defense and precision-strike capabilities, as well as additional munitions and critical equipment that Ukraine is using so effectively to defend itself on the battlefield,” Blinken said in a statement.
Blinken added that the Pentagon will also announce $850 million of new security assistance for Ukraine today. His statement followed a similar statement from the White House, all coming the same day as President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington.
The top US diplomat said that this new support comes as the Kremlin “has tried and failed to wipe Ukraine off the map” and is now seeking to “weaponize winter” with strikes on infrastructure.
The Patriot system is an advanced long-range air defense system that is highly effective at intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles.
“Today’s assistance for the first time includes the Patriot Air Defense System, capable of bringing down cruise missiles, short range ballistic missiles, and aircraft at a significantly higher ceiling than previously provided air defense systems,” Blinken said.
Blinken reiterated that the US will continue “to support Ukraine for as long as it takes, so that Kyiv can continue to defend itself and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table when the time comes.”
5 hr 20 min ago
Kyiv residents are optimistic as Zelensky makes surprise trip to Washington
From Svitlana Vlasova and Olga Voitovych in Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s first wartime trip overseas comes after 10 months of relentless Russian attacks.
But Ukrainians in Kyiv are cautiously optimistic that the visit to the US — announced just hours before Zelensky was due to arrive in Washington, DC — could boost Ukraine's efforts and send a signal to the world.
“It’s (a) very unexpected visit for us. And the expectations are really high,” Natalia Dmytieva said while playing with her grandson in a Kyiv playground that was hit by a Russian missile strike in October.
Natalia Dmytieva playing with her grandson in a Kyiv playground.
Natalia Dmytieva playing with her grandson in a Kyiv playground. (Svitlana Vlasova/CNN)
“This is not the war anymore; this is terrorism,” she said of Russia’s repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid. “Ukraine shouldn’t live in darkness.”
“The world is preparing for Christmas holidays, but we are not able to do the same this year,” she said. “It’s so difficult to explain to children why we don’t have a tree, why we can’t have fun as being shown on TV,” she told CNN.
An officer in the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces who declined to provide his name added that he was “pleasantly surprised” by news of the visit.
“Probably the importance of the visit is so high that he decided to do it personally. So I welcome it,” he said.
The officer hoped that Zelensky used the trip to keep global attention on the conflict. “If I were the president, I would say, 'Imagine if Hitler could be stopped at the first stages'" of World War II. “We are fighting not only for our freedom, but also for theirs.”
Ruslan Zakharchenko, a law student, praised Zelensky for leading Ukraine’s war response for 10 uninterrupted months. “He stayed here in the most difficulties time and never left us,” he said.
But he said Zelensky’s departure to go to the US is a “justified step” in shoring up Washington’s support.
“The aim should be ... to win in this war,” he added. “In order to achieve this, we need fast delivery of weapon and military equipment.”
Several Kyiv residents said they hoped the US would commit to send more weapons to Ukraine, bolster its air defenses and pursue even stronger punishments against Russia.
Yet while some residents are hopeful, others said the trip is unlikely to mark a turning point.
Andriy in Kyiv.
Andriy in Kyiv. (Svitlana Vlasova/CNN)
“We shouldn’t expect anything from the United States,” said Andriy, who previously worked with the Ukrainian military and declined to provide his last name. “The worst thing is to hope for some assistance and to be disappointed when it doesn’t come.”
“Zelensky may want something that USA don’t want to give us, or vice versa,” he said.
6 hr 12 min ago
Analysis: How Biden's expected $1.8 billion weapons deal could impact the war in Ukraine
Analysis from CNN's Nick Paton Walsh
MIM-104 Patriot short-range anti-aircraft missile systems for defense against aircraft, cruise missiles and medium-range tactical ballistic missiles at Rzeszow Airport, Poland, on July 24.
MIM-104 Patriot short-range anti-aircraft missile systems for defense against aircraft, cruise missiles and medium-range tactical ballistic missiles at Rzeszow Airport, Poland, on July 24. (Christophe Gateau/picture alliance/Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden is expected to announce an additional $1.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the White House. The significant boost in aid is expected to be headlined by the Patriot missile defense systems that are included in the package, a US official told CNN.
Details of the expected weapons deal: There are two key headline deliverables: first, the Patriot missile defense systems. Complex, accurate, and expensive, they have been described as the US’s “gold standard” of air defense. NATO preciously guards them, and they require the personnel who operate them – almost 100 in a battalion for each weapon – to be properly trained.
The second are precision-guided munitions for Ukrainian jets. Ukraine, and Russia, largely are equipped with munitions that are “dumb” – fired roughly toward a target. Ukraine has been provided with more and more Western standard precision artillery and missiles, like Howitzers and HIMARS respectively.
What difference could it make to the war? These two headline packages alone could impact the course of the war. Russia’s most potent threat now is the constant bombardment of energy infrastructure. It is making winter colder and unbearable for some, plunging cities into darkness of up 12 hours a day and sometimes longer, in the hope of sapping high Ukrainian morale.
Patriot air defense systems could intercept a large number of Russia’s missiles and attack drones – although Ukraine already claims a high success rate; on Monday, for example, it said 30 out of 35 missiles had been stopped. The Patriot is also a sign NATO’s best technology is on the table to help Ukraine win the war — or at least hold Russia back.
Read more — including about Russia's expected reaction — here.
5 hr 58 min ago
US eyeing new "aggressor state" label for Russia instead of "state sponsor of terrorism," sources say
From CNN's Natasha Bertrand, Kylie Atwood and Kristin Wilson
The Biden administration has been working with Congress over the last several months on legislation that would formally designate Russia as an “aggressor state,” multiple sources familiar with the deliberations tell CNN, and lawmakers are waiting to see if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky endorses the proposal when he addresses Congress in person on Wednesday night.
If he does, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may introduce the legislation as a standalone bill this week, sources familiar with the deliberations told CNN. But it is unclear how both chambers could get it passed before they gavel out for recess, which would mark the end of the 117th Congress. Republicans take over the House chamber when Congress returns in January.
The “aggressor state” label is less hawkish than the “state sponsor of terrorism” label that many lawmakers, including Pelosi, had been pushing the Biden administration to impose on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
But the White House has long resisted designating Russia as a state sponsor of terror, citing the negative consequences such a label could have on the ongoing diplomacy between the US and Russia on issues like prisoner swaps, the United Nations-brokered deal to allow grain out of Ukraine, cross-border aid to Syria and other humanitarian efforts.
“We’re working with Congress right now on legislation that would help us get around some of the challenges of using the 'state sponsor of terrorism' designation,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a CNN interview earlier this month, adding that the label has “some unintended consequences.”
Sources familiar with the deliberations said the administration shared a white paper with lawmakers and staffers in the fall outlining potential solutions, including the aggressor state designation.
A senior administration official confirmed to CNN that “we are in contact with Congress on new accountability mechanisms it is working on – ones that would not come with the unintended, harmful global consequences of an SST designation and actually address the case of Russia’s atrocities and aggression in an effective way.”
A draft of the proposal obtained by CNN calls for imposing tough new sanctions on senior Russian government officials that the president determines are complicit in “aggressor state” tactics, including undermining Ukraine’s democratic processes, threatening its territorial sovereignty, misappropriating Ukraine’s assets and asserting authority over any Ukrainian territory without Kyiv’s authorization.
Why some are opposed: But Republican lawmakers and congressional aides opposed to the proposed legislation expressed concern that it would give the administration greater leeway to remove sanctions unilaterally should Russia signal an openness to peace talks with Ukraine, and they complained that the label does not have any real teeth to hold Russia accountable.
“The proposed ‘Aggressor State’ designation is a poor substitute for what Ukraine has called for: a State Sponsor of Terror designation for Russia,” Republican Rep. Michael McCaul said in a tweet on Tuesday. “This new designation fails to hold Putin accountable
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