Ukraine맥스카지노�s Volodymyr Zelenskyy told cheering U.S. legislators during a defiant wartime visit to the nation맥스카지노�s capital on Wednesday that against all odds his country still stands, thanking Americans for helping to fund the war effort with money that is 맥스카지노�not charity,맥스카지노� but an 맥스카지노�investment맥스카지노� in global security and democracy.The whirlwind stop in Washington 맥스카지노� his first known trip outside his country since Russia invaded in February 맥스카지노� was aimed at reinvigorating support for his country in the U.S. and around the world at a time when there is concern that allies are growing weary of the costly war and its disruption to global food and energy supplies.Zelenskyy called the tens of billions of dollars in U.S. military and economic assistance provided over the past year vital to Ukraine맥스카지노�s efforts to beat back Russia and appealed for even more in the future.맥스카지노�Your money is not charity,맥스카지노� he sought to reassure both those in the room and those watching at home. 맥스카지노�It맥스카지노�s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.맥스카지노�Just before his arrival, the U.S. announced a new $1.8 billion military aid package, including for the first time Patriot surface-to-air missiles. And Congress planned to vote this week on a fresh spending package that includes about $45 billion in additional emergency assistance to Ukraine.The speech to Congress came after President Joe Biden hosted Zelenskyy in the Oval Office for strategy consultations, saying the U.S. and Ukraine would maintain their 맥스카지노�united defense맥스카지노� as Russia wages a 맥스카지노�brutal assault on Ukraine맥스카지노�s right to exist as a nation.맥스카지노� Biden pledged to help bring about a 맥스카지노�just peace.맥스카지노�Zelenskyy told Biden that he had wanted to visit sooner and his visit now demonstrates that the 맥스카지노�situation is under control, because of your support.맥스카지노�The highly sensitive trip came after 10 months of a brutal war that has seen tens of thousands of casualties on both sides and devastation for Ukrainian civilians.Zelenskyy traveled to Washington aboard a U.S. Air Force jet. The visit had been long sought by both sides, but the right conditions only came together in the last 10 days, U.S. officials said, after high-level discussions about the security both of Zelenskyy and of his people while he was outside of Ukraine. Zelenskyy spent less than 10 hours in Washington before beginning the journey back to Ukraine.In his remarks to lawmakers, Zelenskky harked back to U.S. victories in the Battle of the Bulge, a turning point against Nazi Germany in World War II, and the Revolutionary War Battle of Saratoga, an American victory that helped draw France맥스카지노�s aid for U.S. independence. The Ukrainian leader predicted that next year would be a 맥스카지노�turning point맥스카지노� in the conflict, 맥스카지노�when Ukrainian courage and American resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom 맥스카지노� the freedom of people who stand for their values.맥스카지노�Zelenskyy received thunderous applause from members of Congress and presented lawmakers with a Ukrainian flag autographed by front-line troops in Bakhmut, in Ukraine맥스카지노�s contested Donetsk province. The flag was displayed behind him on the rostrum by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris. Pelosi, in turn, presented Zelenskyy with an American flag that had flown over the Capitol that day, and Zelenskyy pumped it up and down as he exited the chamber.Declaring in his speech that Ukraine 맥스카지노�will never surrender,맥스카지노� Zelenskyy warned that the stakes of the conflict were greater than just the fate of his nation 맥스카지노� that democracy worldwide is being tested.맥스카지노�This battle cannot be ignored, hoping that the ocean or something else will provide protection,맥스카지노� he said, speaking in English for what he had billed as a 맥스카지노�speech to Americans.맥스카지노�Earlier, in a joint news conference with Biden, Zelenskyy was pressed on how Ukraine would try to bring an end to the conflict. He rejected Biden맥스카지노�s framing of finding a 맥스카지노�just peace,맥스카지노� saying, 맥스카지노�For me as a president, 맥스카지노�just peace맥스카지노� is no compromises.맥스카지노� He said the war would end once Ukraine맥스카지노�s sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity were restored, and Russia had paid back Ukraine for all the damage inflicted by its forces.맥스카지노�There can맥스카지노�t be any 맥스카지노�just peace맥스카지노� in the war that was imposed on us,맥스카지노� he added.Biden, for his part, said Russia was 맥스카지노�trying to use winter as a weapon, but Ukrainian people continue to inspire the world." During the news conference, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin had 맥스카지노�no intention of stopping this cruel war.맥스카지노�The two leaders appeared to share a warm rapport, laughing at each other's comments and patting each other on the back throughout the visit, though Zelenskyy made clear he will continue to press Biden and other Western leaders for ever more support.He said that after the Patriot system was up and running, 맥스카지노�we will send another signal to President Biden that we would like to get more Patriots."맥스카지노�We are in the war," Zelenskyy added with a smile, as Biden chuckled at the direct request. 맥스카지노�I맥스카지노�m sorry. I맥스카지노�m really sorry."Biden told Zelenskyy that it was 맥스카지노�important for the American people, and for the world, to hear directly from you, Mr. President, about Ukraine맥스카지노�s fight, and the need to continue to stand together through 2023."Zelenskyy had headed to Washington after making a daring and dangerous trip Tuesday to what he called the hottest spot on the 800-mile front line of the war, the city of Bakhmut.Poland맥스카지노�s private broadcaster, TVN24, said Zelenskyy crossed into Poland early Wednesday on his way to Washington. The station showed footage of what appeared to be Zelenskyy arriving at a train station and being escorted to a motorcade of American SUVs. TVN24 said the video, partially blurred for security reasons, was shot in Przemysl, a Polish border town that has been the arrival point for many refugees fleeing the war.Officials, citing security concerns, were cagey about Zelenskyy's travel plans, but a U.S. official confirmed that Zelenskyy arrived on a U.S. Air Force jet that landed at Joint Base Andrews, just outside the capital, from the Polish city of Rzeszow.Biden told Zelenskyy, who wore a combat-green sweatshirt and boots, that 맥스카지노�it맥스카지노�s an honor to be by your side.맥스카지노�U.S. and Ukrainian officials have made clear they do not envision an imminent resolution to the war and are preparing for fighting to continue for some time. The latest infusion of U.S. money would be the biggest yet 맥스카지노� and exceed Biden맥스카지노�s $37 billion request.Biden repeated that while the U.S. will arm and train Ukraine, American forces will not be directly engaged in the war.The latest U.S. military aid package includes not only a Patriot missile battery but precision guided bombs for fighter jets, U.S. officials said. It represents an expansion in the kinds of advanced weaponry intended to bolster Ukraine's air defenses against what has been an increasing barrage of Russian missiles.Russia맥스카지노�s Foreign Ministry has said the delivery of the advanced surface-to-air missile system would be considered a provocative step and that the system and any crews accompanying it would be a legitimate target for Moscow맥스카지노�s military.맥스카지노�It맥스카지노�s a defensive system," Biden said of sending the missile system. "It맥스카지노�s not escalatory 맥스카지노� it맥스카지노�s defensive.맥스카지노� The visit comes at an important moment, with the White House bracing for greater resistance when Republicans take control of the House in January and give more scrutiny to aid for Ukraine. GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of California has said his party will not write a 맥스카지노�blank check맥스카지노� for Ukraine.Zelenskky appeared well aware of political divisions in the U.S. over prolonged overseas spending, and called on the House and Senate lawmakers to ensure American leadership remains 맥스카지노�bicameral and bipartisan.맥스카지노�Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer opened the chamber's session on Wednesday by saying that passage of the aid package and confirmation of the new U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne M. Tracy, would send a strong signal that Americans stand 맥스카지노�unequivocally맥스카지노� with Ukraine. Tracy was confirmed later on a 93-2 vote.The Senate's top Republican, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, said 맥스카지노�the most basic reasons for continuing to help Ukraine degrade and defeat the Russian invaders are cold, hard, practical American interests.맥스카지노� He said "defeating Russia맥스카지노�s aggression will help prevent further security crises in Europe."Russia맥스카지노�s invasion, which began Feb. 24, has lost momentum. The illegally annexed provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia remain fiercely contested.With the fighting in the east at a stalemate, Moscow has used missiles and drones to attack Ukraine맥스카지노�s power equipment, hoping to leave people without electricity as freezing weather sets in.___Castillo reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Kevin Freking, Aamer Madhani, Chris Megerian and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.