The head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, started his trip to the USA the day before. The purpose of the Alliance head's visit to Washington is to restore military aid to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg in Washington
Stoltenberg will meet with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, State Department head Anthony Blinken and the president's national security advisor Jake Sullivan.
He will also meet with lawmakers and allies of former President Donald Trump in an effort to secure $60 billion in funding for Ukraine.
The head of NATO has already held a meeting with Defense Minister Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon.
NATO Allies have provided unprecedented support to Ukraine, and it is important that we continue to do so. Our support is not charity; this is an investment in our own security, because the world will become more dangerous if President Putin wins in Ukraine, Stoltenberg said before the meeting.
On January 30, he will hold a meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other representatives from both parties.
Trump is stalling the aid package for Ukraine
The visit comes amid pressure from Trump and his supporters in the Republican Party on the rest of the Republican Party to reject a $111 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan because of disagreements with the White House over border policy.
Stoltenberg will deliver a speech at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation. Politico speculates that he will find a skeptical audience there, advocating for Europe to take the lead in supporting Ukraine.
