Ukraine is facing a difficult winter due to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure in what that country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described as a ‘survival issue.’
“We need to survive this winter. We need to protect our people,” Zelenskyy said during a news briefing with President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
“This is a key humanitarian issue for us right now. This is the survival issue.”
Zelenskyy said Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy systems was one of the issues he discussed during Wednesday’s meeting.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is now in its 10th month, devastating the country’s resources and resulting in millions of evacuees. Ukraine resisted the initial invasion and has been subjected to Russian air strikes and brutal fighting in the country’s east.
Power has been knocked out across the country. Last week in Kyiv, authorities said more than half of residents were without electricity or water.
The United States and other allies have provided billions in dollars in military support, including a Patriot surface-to-air missile system and about $45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said he believed the United States would continue to offer support to Ukraine against Russia, despite power in the House of Representatives changing hands after November’s midterm elections.
“Regardless of changes in the Congress, I believe that there will be bipartisan and bicameral support and I know that everybody works for this,” Zelenskyy said.
“I know that the American leadership will be strong.”
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