The Defense Department of Ukraine: Air Defense and Surface-to-Air Missile Systems at the Oval Office of the Senate Armed Forces of Ukraine

He is going to the Oval Office in the afternoon to talk with US President Joe Biden who will announce that the US is sending another $2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. The two will convene a White House news conference before Zelensky addresses members of Congress on Capitol Hill in prime time.

It was only six days ago that Biden arrived at Capitol Hill for his speech and castigating Putin for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “He badly miscalculated,” Biden said. He thought he could roll into Europe and the world would fall. Instead, he met a wall of strength he never imagined.”

The second senior administration official provided the following summary of air defense aid given to Ukraine by the US. Slovakia transferred a critical S-300 system toUkraine in April after we enabled our Allies to do so. The new assistance package announced by President Biden in August included 8 new NASAMS, “National Advanced Surface to Air Missile Systems.” We will provide Ukraine with what it needs to defend itself.

The US hasn’t delivered NASAMS to Ukraine, as of late September. At the time, Brig. Two systems will be delivered in the next two months, with the remaining six expected to arrive sometime in the future.

According to a Facebook post by the General Staff of the armed forces of Ukraine, 84 cruise missiles were fired against targets across the country on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes were a response to what he described as acts of “terrorism” by Kyiv. He referred to Saturday’s blast on the Kerch Bridge as one of the “crimes” he blamed on the “special services” of Ukraine.

Kuleba said that such claims were “nonsense,” writing in a tweet, “Putin is desperate because of battlefield defeats and uses missile terror to try to change the pace of war in his favor.” And Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency claimed in a statement on Monday that Moscow had been planning a “massive” missile attack on Ukraine since early last week.

The deputy head of the Security Council of Russia believes Moscow should aim for the complete dismantling of Zelensky’s regime.

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Administration officials are doubtful additional Ukraine aid will be passed this fiscal year. They think $45 billion is the final package of aid before the current package ends in September.

“It’s clear that he’s feeling the pressure both at home and overseas, and how he reacts to that only he can say,” Kirby told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on “Erin Burnett OutFront.”

Last week, Biden delivered a stark warning about the dangers of Putin’s nuclear threats, invoking the prospect of “Armageddon.” But multiple US officials have said the comment was not based on any new intelligence about Putin’s intentions or changes in Russia’s nuclear posture.

US officials declined to provide additional details about the security arrangements ahead of the trip, including whether Zelensky flew aboard a US military aircraft out of his country. The transit in and out of the country has been difficult. Western leaders who have visited Kyiv over the past year have journeyed on a lengthy train ride from Poland.

The timing appeared ripe for Zelensky to make a dramatic gesture like slipping out of Ukraine for the first time since the invasion began. For Biden, the visit presents an opportunity to reinforce his convictions for supporting Ukraine, even as the war plods on.

Zelensky, who the official said was interested in going to the US, determined those parameters met his needs, and the US set to execute them. The trip was finally confirmed on Sunday.

Over the course of the 10-month invasion, Zelensky has emerged as the international personification of Ukrainian resistance and has spent much of the year appealing to nations for support. For the duration of the war he was in his country and it was a reflection of his desire to come to the aid of his besieged country and of the precarious security situation he would face outside of Ukranian.

In December, a poll from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found 40% of respondents said the United States should “maintain its current level of support for Ukraine indefinitely.” Americans are divided on whether the US should support Ukraine for as long as is necessary, with support dropping 10 points since the summer.

The senior administration official knew that the conflict would continue in the days ahead. “The winter will be hard, and we will continue day-in, day-out to provide critical support to the Ukrainian people.”

The new package will include a surface-to-air missile system for the Ukrainians which has been requested for many years. CNN reported the US was going to send the systems to Ukraine.

Unlike smaller air defense systems, Patriot missile batteries need much larger crews, requiring dozens of personnel to properly operate them. The training for Patriot missile batteries usually takes multiple months, and will now be carried out under the pressure of attacks from Russia.

The official said US troops would teach Ukrainians how to use the system. CNN has previously reported the training would occur at a US Army base in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

The system is widely considered one of the most capable long-range weapons to defend airspace against incoming ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as some aircraft. Because of its long-range and high-altitude capability, it can potentially shoot down Russian missiles and aircraft far from their intended targets inside Ukraine.

“I also think no one is asking for a blank check,” Clinton added. I believe that the Ukrainians are a good investment for the United States. They aren’t saying we need to go to fight their war. They are fighting it on their own. They’re asking us and our allies for the means to not only defend themselves but to actually win.”

The speech “connected the struggle of Ukrainian people to our own revolution, to our own feelings that we want to be warm in our homes to celebrate Christmas and to get us to think about all the families in Ukraine that will be huddled in the cold and to know that they are on the front lines of freedom right now,” Clinton said on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” Wednesday.

“I hope that they will send more than one,” she added. She noted there’s “been some reluctance in the past” by the US and NATO to provide advanced equipment, but added “We’ve seen with our own eyes how effective Ukrainian military is.”

Clinton had previously met with Putin as the US secretary of state and said that the leader was probably impossible to predict, as the war turned in the favor of Ukraine.

Clinton thinks that Putin might use Russian conscripts to throw more bodies into the Ukrainian war.

The Biden administration on Friday announced its largest drawdown yet in US military assistance to Ukraine, but there are lurking concerns that Republicans wielding newfound power in Washington could stand in the way of future aid – especially as chaos brews in the House.

Blinken said the administration would work with Congress to “to provide an additional $907 million of Foreign Military Financing under the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022.”

The White House was a little worried that Ukraine aid would be dry up. They said Senate GOP leader McConnell is among the most ardent supporters of Ukraine and that McCarthy has pledged continued support.

Some Republicans who switched their votes to support McCarthy said they are encouraged by a framework of agreement, but gave no details about the deal and said talks are ongoing.

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It was higher than Biden asked for and a reflection of the Democratic concern that more funding wouldn’t be offered in a GOP-led House. In some ways, that number was an insurance policy against Republican resistance and the view inside the White House was that that figure would sustain US support for several months.

Certain conservative Republicans will oppose any new funding for Ukraine if there are changes to the budgetary process.

One diplomat told CNN that they believe it signals trouble for Ukraine aid moving forward, as many of those who fought McCarthy have in the past spoken out against additional assistance for Kyiv.

“This is a harbinger for a protracted legislative paralysis,” the diplomat said, adding that “the Freedom Caucus – which is not particularly pro-Ukrainian – has just demonstrated its clout.”

They were watching to see how McCarthy would secure the role and whether he would make cuts to aid.

Another diplomat told CNN they’re personally concerned about “the policy concessions McCarthy has to make, and if they are going to affect US role in the world.”

The latest draw down was an awesome Christmas present for Ukraine, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. And lawmakers in Ukraine told CNN they are not concerned that the future of assistance is at risk, noting the strong past bipartisan and public support for aiding their country.

A year into the conflict in Ukraine, both Biden’s message and the reception it gets in Congress has changed, reflecting domestic politics and the drawn-out nature of the conflict itself.

A few members of Congress wore blue and yellow ribbons on their lapels this year. But a year ago, the House chamber was awash in the colors of Ukraine’s flag as lawmakers gave multiple vigorous and bipartisan standing ovations for Biden’s message on the war.

Biden spent less than two minutes discussing the war this year. He received bipartisan applause when he asked whether Americans would “stand for the defense of democracy” — but not all members stood.

Biden said last year that he would not tolerate the bilking of billions of dollars off of the violent regime in Russia.

Biden said, “Ambassador, America is united in our support for you and your country.” Oksana was a special guest for both speeches.

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Ryan Williams, a Republican Strategist said this sentiment has given pause to some Republicans from conservative districts that supported the war who are now worried about wider public support.

It’s having an effect on the base. Williams said it could be a primary issue for Republicans if that continues to grow. “The key is to make sure that that it doesn’t become a big issue with Republicans, a litmus test issue, if you will, that could endanger incumbents who could face conservative primary challengers that may have a difference of opinion.”