Zelensky Cancels Speech at the Last Minute to the U.S. Senate

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has canceled his scheduled speech via video link with American senators at the last minute, as announced by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer during a press conference before the meeting. The event was to be broadcasted on C-SPAN.

“Zelensky, by the way, won’t be able to join our briefing. Something happened at the last minute,” he said.

Schumer had announced the day before that he invited Zelensky to speak with senators. He also mentioned President Joe Biden’s request for an additional $106 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and several other objectives, which is set for a vote. According to Politico, the Ukrainian president was preparing to present “another proposal for billions of dollars in aid.”

Bloomberg notes that Zelensky’s speech was canceled against the backdrop of negotiations in Congress over new funding for assistance to Ukraine, which have “hit a deadlock.” Specifically, Republicans have threatened to block the appropriations bill that does not include funding for border services.

Schumer promised to present an urgent aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as funding for U.S. border services.