Your trusted source

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine intends to make a surprise visit to Washington on Wednesday, the first time the leader has left his war-torn country since Russia invaded 10 months ago, POLITICO reported.

Zelenskyy was expected to address a joint session of Congress and at the White House as the Biden administration plans to announce the delivery of a Patriot missile battle system to help Ukraine with its air defenses, according to two people familiar with the plans but not authorized to publicly discuss them because of security concerns.

The trip is not certain to happen, the people cautioned. Zelenskyy was still in Ukraine on Tuesday evening, and there are concerns about his ability to leave his country and then return again.

His visit to Washington would come as Congress is on the verge of passing another $45 billion in assistance to Kyiv in the year-end omnibus bill, which would bring the total to over $100 billion in emergency aid from the United States.

News of Zelenskyy’s planned trip was first reported by Punchbowl News.

The White House pushed Congress to include substantial Ukraine aid in the bill, facing an imminent Republican majority in the House that seems to be less inclined to fund the embattled country. If passed, it would bring the total to over $100 billion in emergency aid from the United States.

Zelenskyy would likely meet with congressional leaders and national security committee chiefs, and could address a joint session of Congress. In a short letter to colleagues, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged members to be physically present Wednesday night for a “very special session” with a “very special focus on Democracy.”