Washington — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is finally getting his White House meeting, two years after his name became central to an investigation that led to former President Trump’s first impeachment.
President Biden, who took no questions from reporters at the top of his meeting with Zelenskyy, emphasized that the United States remains committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression. Mr. Biden said the two leaders will discuss how the U.S. can support Ukraine as it continues developing its democracy and integrating with Europe, as well as the fight against COVID-19. Zelenskyy, speaking through a translator, said they will focus on security issues.
Two years ago, Mr. Trump pressed Zelenskyy to investigate the son of then-candidate Joe Biden, prompting the first of two Trump impeachments.
Zelenskyy’s visit on Wednesday marks the second time a European leader has come to the Oval Office since Mr. Biden took office in January. The Congressional Ukraine Caucus met with Zelenskyy on Tuesday afternoon, as did Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Austin congratulated Zelenskyy on Ukraine’s 30 years of independence, also offering his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty “in the face of Russian aggression.”
A key issue for Ukraine is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which the U.S. and Germany are letting Russia complete and which will allow Russia to bypass Ukraine en route to Western Europe. A senior administration official told reporters the U.S. will launch a “strategic energy dialogue” for a direct channel with Ukraine’s government.
The U.S. and Ukraine are also expected to announce they are restarting a commission to codify their strategic partnership. The commission, which has not met in three years, originally began in 2008.
The senior administration official said the U.S. remains “supportive” of Ukrainian democracy reforms, a stipulated requirement ahead of any future possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.
The administration notified Congress last week of an additional $60 million security assistance package to Ukraine, which includes javelin missiles and other lethal and non-lethal defense capabilities, the official also said.
