President Zelensky Says Don't Wait for November to Help Ukraine in Speech in Washington

President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged aid for his country not to wait until November, appreciating the aid and support from the United States.

"I express my gratitude to the United States for their firm position in defending freedom and supporting Ukraine," he tweeted, as quoted on July 10.

"It is very important to win now, to win over Russian war and terror," he continued in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Institute, Washington DC, United States on Tuesday.

On the same occasion, President Zelensky urged US political leaders in Washington not to wait for the results of the American presidential election in November, to move decisively to help his country fight the Russian invasion.

"Everyone is waiting for November. Americans are waiting for November, in Europe, the Middle East, in the Pacific, the whole world is looking towards November and, of course, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is also waiting for November," President Zelensky said, quoted by Reuters.

"This is the time to come out of the shadows, to make a strong decision to act and not wait for November or any other month," he said.

President Zelensky arrived in Washington on Tuesday for the July 9-11 NATO summit. He will push for NATO to beef up Ukraine's air defenses and equip it with more F-16 fighter jets.

"We are fighting for additional security guarantees for Ukraine, and these are weapons and finances, political support," he said in a video on social media.

In addition to attending the summit, President Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Biden at the White House on Thursday.

In my address at the Ronald Reagan Institute I expressed my gratitude to the United States for their firm position in defending freedom and supporting Ukraine. It is crucial to win now, to prevail over the Russian war and terror. pic.twitter.com/B4oJQFZxbW

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 10, 2024