Zelensky will brief senators Tuesday ahead of key vote on military aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address senators at a classified briefing Tuesday via a secure video conference feed, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced.  

Zelensky will brief senators on the state of the war in Ukraine and the need for another round of military aid a day before the Senate is scheduled to vote on proceeding to the legislative vehicle for a $106 billion emergency foreign aid package that includes more than $61 billion for Ukraine.

“The administration has invited President Zelensky to address senators … as part of our classified briefing tomorrow so we can hear directly from him precisely what’s at stake in this vote,” Schumer announced on the Senate floor. “I ask that all senators — all senators — attend this important briefing.”  

Zelensky warned senators at a closed-door meeting in the Old Senate Chamber in September that Ukraine would lose its war with Russia without more aid from the United States. 

Schumer filed cloture Monday evening on a motion to proceed to the shell bill that will carry the supplemental foreign aid package.  

The final details of the package are still being worked out. It’s being held up by a disagreement between the two parties about adding immigration and asylum policy reforms to reduce the flow of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border.