After embrace at NATO summit, Zelenskyy takes his case for US military aid to governors

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Away from Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to broaden support for U.S. subject assistance by telling authorities governors Friday that nan world’s leaders should spot for themselves nan carnage wrought since Russia invaded his state much than 2 years ago.

Zelenskyy’s plea astatine nan National Governors Association summertime gathering successful Salt Lake City came days aft NATO leaders met successful nan U.S. superior and pledged much thief for Ukraine.

“The only point we inquire for is capable support — aerial defense systems for our cities, weapons for our men and women connected nan frontline, support successful protecting normal life and rebuilding,” Zelenskyy told nan governors. “This is each we request to withstand and thrust Russia from our onshore and to nonstop a beardown awesome to each different imaginable aggressors which are watching.”

NATO members this week agreed to a caller programme to supply reliable subject assistance to Ukraine and hole for its eventual rank successful nan alliance. They declared Ukraine was connected an “irreversible” way to subordinate NATO and, for nan first time, that China was a “decisive enabler” of Russia successful nan war.

Yet galore Republicans including erstwhile President Donald Trump person been skeptical and successful immoderate cases opposed to continuing to thief Ukraine conflict disconnected Russia’s 2022 invasion. President Joe Biden highlighted NATO’s world domiciled and his differences pinch Trump complete Ukraine aft nan summit.

While governors don’t ballot connected U.S. subject assistance to Ukraine, Zelenskyy’s quality showed his willingness to link pinch different leaders successful nan U.S. to plead his country’s case.

He sewage a lukewarm welcome, introduced to cheers and thunderous applause by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican and nan outgoing National Governors Association chairman.

“There are things that hap successful world affairs. Sometimes it’s difficult to show who nan bully guys and nan bad guys are. This is not 1 of those times,” Cox said.

Cox and Zelenskyy signed a waste and acquisition statement betwixt Utah and nan Kyiv region. Several governors of some parties pledged successful a closed-door gathering pinch nan Ukrainian leader to impulse their states’ wealthiest group to springiness humanitarian aid, said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat.

The Ukrainian president besides met Friday pinch members of Utah’s legislature delegation — each are Republicans — and pinch leaders of nan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nan uber-wealthy Utah-based religion known wide arsenic nan Mormon church.

Zelenskyy’s entreaty to governors from some parties could salary dividends if Trump is reelected successful November, Green told The Associated Press.

“If Mr. Trump becomes president again, possibly he’ll perceive to immoderate of nan Republican governors that were successful nan room and us, perhaps, arsenic Democratic governors because it’s a humanitarian crisis,” he said.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, said Zelenskyy made “a very, very bully case” that has motivated him to impulse others successful his statement to proceed sending aid. Stitt had antecedently called for “imposing each imaginable sanctions” connected Russia but had not travel retired successful favour of backing nan Ukrainian military.

“We request to punch a bully successful nan chemoreceptor erstwhile he’s coming successful and trying to return complete a sovereign state for illustration Ukraine,” Stitt told reporters Friday. “It seems for illustration a beautiful bully usage of funds. These aren’t American forces connected nan ground, these are conscionable simply dollars, weapons, technology. It makes a batch of sense.”

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Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks astatine nan 2024 summertime gathering of nan National Governors Association Friday, July 12, 2024, successful Salt Lake City. | Rick Bowmer, Associated Press