President Biden Receiving Zelensky's Visit, Russia: Not Looking For Peace, Continue Fighting

JAKARTA - Talks between President Vladimir Zelensky and US President Joe Biden in Washington Wednesday showed Ukraine and the United States continued hostilities, instead of seeking peace, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said at Thursday's briefing.

"Talks in Washington show that neither Ukraine nor the United States seek peace. They are determined to continue fighting," the diplomat said, launching TASS December 22.

"Have you heard anything about the negotiations, about any communication with Russia? Of course not. Zelensky has publicly spoken about our country in a harsh way - in principle he cannot do it the other way around; even his'man' doesn't dare to do that. They have made some effort, commented, but they haven't drowned that low," Zakharova criticized.

"In response, Zelensky has nothing to say, being rude is the only thing he can do," Zakharova continued.

Zakharova said the purpose of the visit was very easy to predict, to get more financial and military assistance from Washington.

"The purpose of the visit is predictable. Zelensky came to ask for more financial and military assistance. He didn't even come with demands, he was taken by those who would eventually get financial assistance, by those whose temporary bases, in the military and metaphor, this money would later come back. They took him there like a doll, showed him to everyone, returned him to the plane and sent him away," Zakharova said.

The diplomat said aid had been promised, and "all of them are presented so that no one in the US Congress doubts the Kyiv regime needs further support."

As previously reported, the United States will provide additional military assistance worth US$1.85 billion or around Rp. 28,750,665,000,000 to Ukraine, including the transfer of Patriot Air Defense Systems, said President Joe Biden and Foreign Minister Antony Blinken on Wednesday, despite Russia's opposition to the provision of such assistance.

The announcement came when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington to meet Biden and address the US Congress on his first known overseas trip since Russia invaded Ukraine 300 days ago.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the aid included a $1 billion withdrawal to give Ukraine "extended air defense and precision attack capabilities". As well as US$850 million in security assistance.

"Today's aid for the first time includes Patriot Air Defense Systems, which are capable of dropping cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft, at much higher altitudes than previously provided air defense systems," Foreign Minister Blinken said in a statement released by the State Department., as quoted by Reuters.

Patriots are considered one of the most advanced US air defense systems and offer protection against aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles. This usually includes launchers along with radars and other supporting vehicles.

The Pentagon said the aid packages would also include ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), precision guided artillery shells, and precision air ammunition.