US President Joe Biden publicly apologized to Ukraine for the first time on Friday, addressing a months-long congressional delay in American military assistance that allowed Russia to gain ground on the battlefield. The apology was made during Biden’s meeting in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who urged for continued bipartisan US support akin to that during World War II.
The two leaders had attended ceremonies the previous day marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. During these events, Biden highlighted the parallel between the allied forces that liberated Europe from Nazi Germany and today’s effort to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy received a warm welcome at the ceremonies.
“I apologize for those weeks of not knowing what’s going to happen in terms of funding,” Biden said, referencing the six-month delay by conservative Republicans in Congress to a $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine. Despite this, Biden assured that the American people remained committed to supporting Ukraine. “We’re still in. Completely. Thoroughly,” he affirmed.
The apology, along with Zelenskyy’s call for unwavering support similar to the allied coalition in WWII, underscored the fragility of US commitment to Ukraine amidst political divisions. The discussion was also overshadowed by the potential return of Donald Trump, whose positive remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin and indications that he might urge Ukraine to cede territory have raised concerns.
Zelenskyy appealed to all Americans to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion and expressed gratitude to lawmakers for ultimately approving the weapons package, which has helped Ukraine counter recent Russian advances.
“It’s very important that in this unity, the United States of America, all American people stay with Ukraine like it was during World War II,” Zelenskyy said. “How the United States helped to save human lives, to save Europe. And we count on your continuing support in standing with us shoulder to shoulder.”
The United States remains Ukraine’s largest supplier of wartime support as Ukraine combats an intense Russian offensive in the eastern regions of Kharkiv and Donetsk. Ukrainian officials warn that the conflict could expand as Russia leverages its larger army.
