U.S. President Joe Biden is ready to welcome his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington D.C. on Aug. 30, the White House press service said on July 21.
“The visit will affirm the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression in the Donbas and Crimea,” the White House said. “Our close cooperation on energy security, and our backing for President Zelensky’s efforts to tackle corruption and implement a reform agenda based on our shared democratic values.”
Earlier in the day, Zelensky’s spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov said Zelensky’s administration was already preparing for the meeting and was waiting for an official announcement from the White House.
This is going to be the first personal meeting between the American and the Ukrainian leader. The invitation follows months of anticipation since early 2021, when the Biden administration took reins in the U.S.
Biden and Zelensky have previously had two phone conversations on April 2 and June 6.
Upon that, on June 6, media outlet Axios, part of the HBO network, reported referring to its White House sources that U.S. administration had contemplated meeting Zelensky before Biden’s June 16 summit with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
However, according to the report, the plans were postponed due to Zelensky’s earlier decision to replace the top leadership at Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-run oil and gas company.
