Zelensky presents Biden with Ukrainian military medal
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented President Biden with a Ukrainian military medal during his visit to the White House on Wednesday, a show of thanks to the U.S. amid Ukraine's war with Russia.
Zelensky awarded Biden a medal from a Ukrainian soldier who requested it be given to "a very brave president," Zelensky said, per The Independent. Biden thanked his counterpart, and said the award was "undeserved, but much appreciated." In turn, Biden also promised to give the Ukrainian soldier a command coin from a U.S. battlefield in Iraq, where the president's son, Beau, had fought.
Zelensky's visit to Washington, D.C. is his first trip outside Ukraine since the beginning of the war. His meeting with Biden was arranged to announce additional U.S. aid to Ukraine, including a Patriot missile battery. "We are going to continue to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself, particularly in air defense," said Biden in the pair's meeting. "We stand with you; you have been a great leader."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Biden and Zelensky also held a press conference at the White House and will subsequently deliver comments to a joint session of Congress.
"All my appreciations ... from my heart, from the heart of Ukrainians, all Ukrainians from our nation, strong nations, all appreciation to you for your big support and leadership," Zelensky told Biden.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
The world’s most romantic hotelsThe Week Recommends Treetop hideaways, secluded villas and a woodland cabin – perfect settings for Valentine’s Day
-
Democrats push for ICE accountabilityFeature U.S. citizens shot and violently detained by immigration agents testify at Capitol Hill hearing
-
The price of sporting gloryFeature The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics kicked off this week. Will Italy regret playing host?
-
Japan’s Takaichi cements power with snap election winSpeed Read President Donald Trump congratulated the conservative prime minister
-
The ‘mad king’: has Trump finally lost it?Talking Point Rambling speeches, wind turbine obsession, and an ‘unhinged’ letter to Norway’s prime minister have caused concern whether the rest of his term is ‘sustainable’
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
-
Fed holds rates steady, bucking Trump pressureSpeed Read The Federal Reserve voted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged
-
Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
-
Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked with unknown liquidSpeed Read This ‘small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work’
-
Democrats pledge Noem impeachment if not firedSpeed Read Trump is publicly defending the Homeland Security secretary
