In US, Zelensky May Find His Request Is Once Again Denied

The specifics of Volodymyr Zelensky's travel to Washington, DC, on Wednesday are being kept under wraps, but the Ukrainian president is expected to land at 2pm ET and spend the afternoon and evening in the capital, during which he will meet with President Biden and hold a White House press conference at 4:30pm. Sources tell Axios that Zelensky is slated to address Congress at 7:30pm ET. What you need to know about Zelensky's first foreign trip since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24—301 days ago:

• Biden is expected to announce another $2 billion in aid for Ukraine. It will for the first time include a Patriot missile system, which the Hill explains "can help target ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as unmanned aircraft." The Guardian reports the White House told reporters, "We will train Ukrainian forces on how to operate the Patriot missile battery in a third country. This will take some time, but Ukrainian troops will take that training back to their country to operate this battery." (The BBC has a diagram showing how it works.)

• Politico looks at both sides of the coin: On the plus side, it says the Patriot decision came as a surprise to Ukrainian officials, who have long had their eyes on the system. "The version headed to Ukraine is built to intercept ballistic missiles. That would be a major addition to Kyiv’s defenses against continued Russian attacks on the capital’s critical infrastructure."
• But on the flip side, it's possible Zelensky won't get what he wants: longer-range weapons. Politico reports via sources that Zelensky is expected to again ask for long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, and Gray Eagle and Reaper drones. Previous requests for ATACMS have been denied, with officials fearing that "sending long-range missiles to Kyiv could risk provoking Putin using potentially even more lethal weapons inside Ukraine."
• CNN gives some historical context for the visit, which "will draw poignant echoes of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s arrival in Washington, 81 years ago on Thursday, days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. That Christmas visit cemented the alliance that would win World War II and built the post-war democratic world."

(More Volodymyr Zelensky stories.)