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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will address US military officers at the National Defense University as part of a last-minute push to convince Congress to provide more money for weapons before funding runs out.
US President Joe Biden has asked Congress for $US61.4 billion ($A93.5 billion) for wartime funding for Ukraine as part of a $US110 billion package that also includes money for Israel and other national security priorities.
But the request is caught up in a debate over US immigration policy and border security.
The US has already provided Ukraine $US111 billion for its fight against Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Zelenskiy is due to arrive on Monday in Washington DC, where he will meet with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
The IMF’s executive board is due to meet on Monday to review Ukraine’s economic performance under a $US15.6 billion loan, likely paving the way for a disbursement of an additional $US900 million to support Ukraine’s budgetary needs.
On Tuesday, Zelenskiy is expected to go to Capitol Hill and to meet with Biden at the White House.
With Congress in its final work week before leaving for the holidays, questions remain as to whether Republicans will be able to come to an agreement on any rounds of future funding for Ukraine or Israel without White House concessions on additional border security as illegal crossings surge.
But any border package also runs the risk of alienating some Democrats.
The stakes are especially high for Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during television interviews on Sunday, given that “we are running out of funding” for the Ukrainians.
“This is a time to really step up because if we don’t, we know what happens. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will be able to move forward with impunity and we know he won’t stop in Ukraine,” Blinken said.
with Reuters
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