Zelenskyy disclosed the meeting in posts on X-first a photo with about a dozen well-dressed executives and then a 77-second video with highlights from their meeting at Ukraine House in Washington.
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called attention to the meeting on X, saying Zelenskyy "Is literally meeting with defense contractors." The meeting followed last week's Defense Industrial Base Conference, which brought together more than 300 defense industry and government representatives from the United States and Ukraine.
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the conference "Is part of the U.S. government's efforts to significantly increase weapons production to support Ukraine's fight for freedom and security." Attendees discussed "Opportunities for co-production and other industrial cooperation," with a goal of building a defense industrial base for Ukraine.
"We're with you every step of the way, we stand with you today and tomorrow, until the end, until victory." Four high-ranking Ukrainian officials attended the conference along with Raimondo, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Penny Pritzker, U.S. special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery.
Despite a high-profile visit to Washington, Zelenskyy was unable to convince skeptical lawmakers to move forward on the $61.4 billion in new funding for Ukraine proposed by the Biden administration.
Conservatives in Congress are demanding strong border security measures to be paired with any additional Ukraine funding.
Despite dwindling public support, Biden assured Zelenskyy: "We're going to stay at your side. Congress needs to pass a supplemental funding to Ukraine before they break [for] the holiday recess. Before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him." Zelenskyy revealed at the White House that the infusion of U.S. funding for Ukraine was "Really boosting our economy and global food security." "Yesterday, I met with the IMF and the World Bank, and they're impressed with Ukraine's economic growth, almost 5%. And that's significant," Zelenskyy said.
No comments:
Post a Comment