When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lands in Washington, he will bring with him one of the biggest pleas to the US in the 300 days since the Russian invasion began.. And he might not get what he wants.

Zelensky's visit to the US, where he will meet with President Joe Biden and address Congress, shocked senior US officials and parliamentarians. There were rumors that something serious was about to happen in Washington. But no one knew about the arrival or plans of the Ukrainian president, writes Politico.

Now that the face-to-face meeting has been confirmed, officials say they expect gun disputes and attempts by Biden and Zelenskiy to use the meeting to sway the new Congress to their side.. Behind the scenes, U.S. and Ukrainian officials have been planning the visit for weeks amid Washington-Kyiv wrangling over the future of the war that began nearly 10 months ago.. On Dec. 11, Biden invited Zelensky to Washington to talk about subsequent battlefield operations and ways his administration can continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, an unnamed administration official told Politico..

In the weeks leading up to this call, US officials had been talking with their counterparts in Kyiv and Europe about how much more US military support could be provided to Ukraine during the winter.. Kyiv went directly to the Biden administration to hand over more advanced weapons that could potentially open the way to victory.

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But the US began to doubt. This came as a disappointment to the Ukrainian side just as Ukrainian forces are trying to advance on the battlefield, pushing the Russian army out of their territory..

“This conversation is expected to dominate a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskiy, his team, and the Biden administration.. Also, Zelensky is likely to convey to Congress that his country needs more advanced weapons to repel Russian bombing, ”the newspaper writes..

“He needs long-range weapons so that he can prevent the start of the expected Russian offensive. He needs immediate financial support to keep the government running.. And he knows that Congress will decide on such things this week,” explained former US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor..

Despite the Biden administration pledging to continue to support Kyiv in defense against Russia inside Ukraine, U.S. officials have refused to supply any resources that would allow Ukrainians to launch long-range missiles at positions inside Russia.. Ukrainians say such weapons are critically needed so they can reclaim lost territories and force Russia on the defensive, Politico writes..

During the meeting with Biden and his national security team, the Ukrainian delegation is likely to once again ask for long-range ATACMS missiles, as well as Gray Eagle and Reaper drones.. But American officials are not ready to go for it.. The White House flatly refused to send ATACMS missiles. US officials say the price of such an act is too high. Transferring long-range missiles to Kyiv could provoke Putin to use even more lethal weapons against Ukraine.

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Such fluctuations in the US worry Kyiv. Therefore, the military leadership of the country began to look for help somewhere else, including countries outside the Western alliance.. The Ukrainian side is afraid that it will not be able to advance in the winter and will lose the momentum gained after the liberation of Kherson.

“Our strategy is to keep attacking because we cannot let the front be frozen.. We need to keep pushing. We have reached the limit of what we can do with the advanced weapons that the US has already given.. For the next phase, we need long-range weapons to reach our goals,” Oleksandr Danyliuk, a former National Security Adviser to the President of Ukraine, told Politico..

Politico reminds that Biden is set to announce a new nearly $2 billion military aid package that will for the first time include Patriot air defense systems and Joint Direct Attack Munition kits capable of turning rockets into precision-guided munitions.. Ukraine will also receive artillery and other ammunition worth $850 million.

“The transfer of Patriot was a decision that surprised even Ukrainian officials. This system is a long-awaited prize for Kyiv. And the version that Ukraine will receive is designed to intercept ballistic missiles..

But Ukraine also desperately wants to launch a more aggressive offensive in the east before it loses momentum.. And officials in Kyiv say that the promised weapons are not enough for this.. Biden administration agrees that Ukraine is now going through a critical moment. The situation on the ground is likely to become more difficult in winter. Russia will fire missiles at the Ukrainian army and critical infrastructure, forcing civilians to move to other regions of Ukraine or neighboring countries.

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The Biden administration will likely try to use Zelenskiy's visit to underline support for Kyiv in general, as well as intentions to continue helping Ukraine during the darkest days of the war.. U.S. officials say coverage of Washington's support at this critical time for Kyiv is critical to sustaining Europe's bailouts, which are weighed down by the energy crisis and recession fears.. Zelensky's visit, according to the White House, should be a powerful signal for allies on the other side of the Atlantic. But Biden's main audience is actually much closer..

Publicly, the White House downplays its concerns. But the reality is that the administration is growing alarmed about the impact the Republican Party will take control of the lower house of Congress.. Kevin McCarthy, who may become the new speaker of the House of Representatives, promised that Ukraine will no longer receive " And several influential right-wing Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Green and Lauren Bobert, called for an end to American support altogether..

The Biden administration does not believe that American aid will be completely canceled. But in private conversations, officials admit that " They believe that Zelensky's visit could be a protective barrier. And Biden, who has managed to rebuild political strength after legislative successes and better results in mid-term elections, is trying to bring Ukraine to the center of the stage at the end of the year.. Many Western leaders came to Kyiv after the start of the war. But US officials did not want to transport Biden "