Biden apologizes to Zelensky for Republican delays on the massive aid package and promises that the US will support Ukraine in the fight against the renewed Russian offensive: ‘We are still in … fully, thoroughly’

President Joe Biden apologized to Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday for the way hardline Republicans delayed a $61 billion financing package for months earlier this year and vowed that the US would continue to support Ukraine in times of need.

“We are still… fully and thoroughly engaged with it,” Biden told his Ukrainian counterpart during their meeting at a Paris hotel.

Both leaders are in the French capital on Thursday following the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which proved an opportunity to underline international alliances against totalitarianism.

Washington is by far the biggest supplier of weapons and cash to Kiev, at a time when Ukraine is facing an intensified Russian offensive in the east. But isolationist Republicans, urged by former President Donald Trump, have at times paralyzed efforts to get funding bills through Congress.

“You continue to fight in a way that is simply remarkable. It is remarkable. And we’re not going to walk away from you,” Biden said.

‘I apologize for the weeks of not knowing what was going to happen in terms of funding, because we had problems getting the bill passed… we had the money… some of our very conservative members had it in hands.

“But we finally did it.”

As a result of the delays, Russia has sought to take advantage of Ukraine’s weapons shortage with its new push along more than 900 kilometers of front lines.

On Thursday, Washington announced it will send another $225 million in aid, including ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, mortar systems and artillery shells.

And during their meeting, Biden said he would sign a $225 million package to help rebuild the country’s power grid, which has been destroyed by months of bombing.

For his part, Zelensky thanked Biden for the US support and said he would use their meeting to update his counterpart on the state of the battle.

“It is very important that in this unity, the United States, all American people remain with Ukraine, as it was during the Second World War, how the United States helped save people’s lives, save Europe,” he said.

“And we count on your continued support and standing shoulder to shoulder with us.”

Firefighters in Kherson, Ukraine, battle fires caused by Russian shelling on June 6

President Joe Biden used the D-Day commemorations to underline the importance of alliances

He also appeared to reference Biden’s recent decision to allow Ukraine to use American weapons to attack inside Russia, and hinted that he wanted more freedom to use them in defending Kharkov.

“Your decisions have had a very positive impact,” he said.

“I don’t want to share everything, all the details with the press, sorry, but there are some details about the battlefield that you need to hear from us.”

This week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will supply Ukraine with its Mirage fighter jets.

The US president and his Ukrainian counterpart were both in Normandy a day earlier for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, their planes parked next to each other at Caen airport.

Biden took the opportunity to warn of the dangers of isolationism and to underline his commitment to Ukraine.

President Zelensky had an emotional meeting with D-Day veteran Melvin Hurwitz, 99, a former U.S. Air Force pilot. “You saved Europe,” he told Hurwitz

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron join hands upon arrival at the ceremony. France said this week it will send Mirage fighter jets to Kiev

“Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago and it is not the answer today,” Biden said in his speech at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, drawing his biggest applause.

“We will not walk away,” Biden said. “Because if we do that, Ukraine will be subjugated and it won’t stop there.”

Zelensky shared a moving moment with a D-Day veteran during his visit. When 99-year-old Melvin Hurwitz told him, “You are the savior of the people,” Zelensky quickly leaned over to hug him and said, “No, no, no. You saved Europe.’

The Ukrainian president was honored by world leaders during the international ceremony commemorating the D-Day landings.

Macron said: ‘We are all children of the landings.

“As we look at those who want to change borders by force to rewrite history, let us stand with dignity and look at those who ended up here. Let us have their courage.

“Here, President of Ukraine, your presence here today shows us this in a very powerful way.”