Biden Meets Zelensky in France... and Aid Package

U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris today, Friday, where he will provide him with an aid package in the form of weapons valued at $225 million, on the sidelines of the commemorations of the D-Day anniversary in World War II. This will be their first direct talks since Zelensky's visit to Washington in December, when both presidents faced opposition from the Republican Party regarding further aid to Ukraine. The two presidents will meet again next week at the G7 summit scheduled to be held in Italy, where the rich countries will discuss the use of Russian assets that were frozen after the invasion of Ukraine in an effort to provide $50 billion to Kyiv. Biden made statements in Normandy, France, yesterday, Thursday, linking World War II and the Russian war on Ukraine in terms of tyranny and despotism, describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "dictator." Sources indicated that the new weapons, valued at $225 million, include artillery shells, missiles for air defense, and other arms. Kyiv is striving to defend Kharkiv after an attack that Moscow began on May 10, during which it took control of some villages in the region. Biden changed his position last week, allowing Ukraine to use the American weapons supplied to strike military targets inside Russia that support the attack on Kharkiv. National Security Adviser Deputy John Feiner explained in Washington yesterday that the U.S. is trying to meet Ukraine's weapon needs.