border security which republicans have insisted be added to the package, zelensky met with top lawmakers including the brand-new house speaker, mike johnson, many republican holdout to meet with zelensky say a deal remains unlikely, let's go straight to mj lee who was at the white house, what are we expecting here on the two leaders beyond just a pitch to get this money from congress to ukraine? >> jake, this press conference obviously has been quite delayed but we did just see the ukrainian delegation in the u.s. delegation take their seats in the front row, secretary blinken, secretary austin, other officials are in the room so we should see president biden and president zelenskyy enter the room any moment, i think white house officials and u.s. officials had made the point this visit is about so much more than the issue of u.s. funding for ukraine which clearly on capitol hill right now, fans at an impasse. they're saying the world is watching right now including russian president vladimir putin, this is the kind of visit that can send a message to the world at such a critical moment in this conflict about the u.s. discontinuing steadfast support, there is another -- i'm going to toss it back to you. >> here is the president of the united states and the president of ukraine, let's watch and listen in. >> please, have a seat. president zelenskyy, it is an honor to welcome you back to the white house. one president putin launched his brutal total invasion of ukraine in february of 2022, and russian tanks rolled over the border towards keith -- give for a month. no one should forget that for you to be here today, again today nearly two years later and for ukraine to be standing strong and free is an enormous victory already. putin has failed to subjugate ukraine. the brave people of ukraine have defied putin's well at every turn. backed by the strong and unwavering support of the united states and our allies, and partners in more than 50 nations in europe, and the indo- pacific. ukraine will emerge from this war proud, free, and firmly rooted in the west unless we walk away. the american people can be and should be incredibly proud at the part they played in supporting ukraine success, we will continue to supply ukraine with critical weapons and equipment as long as we can including $200 million i just approved today in a critical needed equipment additional air defense interceptors, artillery, and ammunition. without supplemental funding, we are rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help ukraine respond in the operational demands that has. putin is banking on the united states failing to deliver for ukraine. we must prove him wrong. the united states and congress must as i asked last week, it is stunning that we have gotten to this point. we need to fully appreciate how this is being viewed around the world. it's being used by russia. russian loyalists in moscow celebrated when republicans voted to block ukraine's aid last week. the host of a kremlin run show literally said and i quote well done, republicans! that is good for us and of quote, let me say that again, this host of a kremlin run show said well done, republicans. that's good for us. that's a russian speaking. if you're being celebrated by russian propagandist, it might be time to rethink what you're doing, history will judge harshly those who turn their back on freedoms cause. today, ukraine's freedom is on the line. if we do not stop putin, he will endanger the freedom of everyone almost everywhere. putin will keep going and would be aggressors would be a bold and to try to take what they can by force. mr. president, i will not walk away from ukraine and neither will the american people. a clear bipartisan majority of people across the united states and in congress support your country. they understand as i do that ukraine success and its ability to deter aggression in the future are vital to security for the world at large. i have repeatedly made clear from our first day in office, we also need ukraine to make changes to fix the broken immigration system here. we need congress to make the changes to fix the broken immigration system here at home, my team is working with senate democrats and republicans to try to find the bipartisan compromise both in terms of changes in policy and providing resources we need to secure the border here compromises how democracy works , and i'm ready and offer compromising already. holding ukraine funding hostage in an attempt to force through an extreme republican partisan agenda on the border is not how it works. we need real solutions. i also asked congress for funding for israel, to take on hamas and confront multiple other threats backed by iran in the wake of the october 7th assault, national security advisor sullivan will travel to the region this week and meet with the israeli war cabinet as i have met with them to emphasize our commitment to israel as well as the need to protect civilian life and ensure more humanitarian assistance flows and reaches into gaza for palestinian civilians. secretary austin will also travel to the region this week to step up the international efforts to protect the free flow of commerce through the red sea, the entire world is watching what we do so let's show them who we are. america stands for freedom, today, tomorrow, and always. america stands against tyranny and against oppression. america stands with the people of ukraine. thank you again for being here today, mr. president and thank you for everything ukraine is doing to hold the line for liberty in the world, the floor is yours. >> thank you very much, mr. president. dear journalists, i am glad to be here personally thank you and tell you how ukraine loves what we have achieved together, defending life and freedom. in ukraine, we are fighting for our country and read him and dolls will in europe, we see our freedom and yours. this resonates not only in our country, not only in our hearts and in ukraine but also in poland multiple states, and others. when freedom is strong, one country is strong everywhere. when it is -- it presents its merits to others. ukraine's -- ukrainians have twice lended evolutions, defending freedom for literally two years we have been in a full-scale war, the biggest since world war two. fighting for freedom, we stand for no matter what putin tries. he has not won any victories. thanks to ukraine success and defense, other european nations are safe from russian aggression unlike in the past. ukraine can now tackle the russian dictatorship, so our children and other nations, they won't have to shed their blood and sacrifice lives defending against russian aggression. we have already made significant progress, we have shown that our courage and partnership are stronger than any russian hostility. we have freed 50% of the terrorist russia occupied after february 24th. we won the black sea and reviving our economy thanks to maritime experts, ukraine 5% economic growth this year proves our effect of partnership. we have shown that no russian missiles cannot do the powerful american systems. thank you very much. even during war, we are reforming our country and our institutions today, president biden and i discussed how to increase our strengths for next year, air defense and destroying russian logistics on ukraine's land, mr. president, thank you very much, we are supporting -- for supporting us in these areas like our jury in the black sea. we aim to win the air battle. this will intensify our ground advances in 2024 with out -- our control of the skies, who controls the skies controls the wars duration. today, i would like to think of course -- significant defense package with our defenders we value very much, second, yesterday i met with american defense company leaders. they advised us on how to make our defense industries work faster and more effectively, thank you, president biden for this important initiative that we started with you. together, ukraine and america can transform democracies arsenal. this is vital for other free nations and the u.s. as it involves your company's technologies and technology advancement, in job creation. it is important to know that two thirds of american support for ukraine remains and works in united states, i informed mr. president that ukraine has fulfilled all of the recommendations of the european commission regarding the preparation for a decision to start negotiations on ukraine's -- to the eu, we constantly communicate with european leaders about our joint steps -- staff sanctions and political efforts to pressure russia. american leadership is crucial and keeping this unit together, a unit that serves the entire free world. i thank america for new sanctions and today, we discussed putin's further isolation and making him pay for his aggression. it's very important that by the end of this year, we get sent a very strong signal of our unity to our aggressor and the unity of ukraine, america, europe and the entire free world. everything we talk about today will help us in the year 2024, today's discussions in the white house and in congress across both parties and both chambers with a speaker -- we are very productive and i thank you for the bipartisan support as we use approach christmas on behalf of -- our ukrainian families separated by war and all sons and daughters on the front, ukraine's greatest wish is to meet this war's victorious end, no one but putin wants prolonged war. we dream of a christmas in peacetime, of course. we are working on our success in this. we are heading there together with you, thanks of course to your support. thank you very much. mr. president? thank you, america. >> thank you, look, we are going to alternate asking questions and ask a total of two questions, i will ask the first question. i will recognize the first question asked there. [ laughter ] i will ask a question too. danny kemp? >> thank you, mr. president. for president biden, ukraine's counteroffensive has stalled in recent months, congress is blocking aid, vladimir putin appears ready to wait things out, so what is the strategy for the u.s. and ukraine next year to try to turn this around? if that fails, at what point do you say it's ukraine as a friend, as it is about time to start looking at peace talks. president zelenskyy , welcome back to washington. did you hear what you wanted to hear from congress and from president biden? are you indeed more worried than when you got here? thank you very much. >> let me answer the question first, put this into perspective it remember how far ukraine has come. russia has failed thus far in trying to erase ukraine from the map and subsuming into russia. it ukraine has taken back more than 50% of its territories seized since february of '22. it has pushed back russian navy, so ukraine can export grain and steel to the world through the black sea. thanks to the incredible courage of the ukrainian people in the bipartisan support, it's not just american support. there are more than 50 countries , 50 countries helping ukraine with military economic, and humanitarian assistance. 50, the burden sharing that u.s. has put up $75 billion and our allies and partners put up $100 billion. more than 90% of our security assistance to ukraine is being spent in the united states to provide weapons for ukraine and replenish our stockpiles and build our industrial base, we need to ensure putin continues to fail in ukraine and ukraine to succeed in the best way for that, to do that is to pass this up. >> yeah. i can answer in ukrainian. >> translator: thank you, first of all i would like to answer to the war -- words of mr. president biden, about successes. i think that this was not an easy success, we were quite serious, we had a serious steps forward in this, we gain victory on the sea, we have destroyed ships of the russian federation. we throw the remnants of their fleet to russian territorial waters, they have something in the black sea in the vicinity occupying crimea but they secede this activity, they destroyed 20,000 of -- wagner mercenaries, who were everywhere on african, continent, syria in ukraine. it these terrorist organizations are not existent anymore. yes, we have a lots of problems but nonetheless, we were able to do this, moreover, russia was not able to say any part of our territory, any village, any town. not talking about large cities, we are going to proceed with this. it goes without saying that we have objectively helped clear, plan, but if you allow me, i'm not able to tell you in public of the details of the thousand and 24 operations. if i heard what i wanted, i have heard a lot. i experienced this from president biden administration from -- talking with speaker. we know we have two separate worlds on a particular result, therefore we count on particular results. thank you. >> yeah, sorry. >> thank you for taking my question. many republican voices doubt the ability of ukraine to win the war. they recently even told ukraine needs to cede some territories to stop fighting. to be very honest, have you even considered such a step to see territories to stop fighting? mr. biden, could you please clarify the policy of your administration and the strategy on ukraine? is it helping the country to defend itself or to win the war? it's obviously a difference. >> i will begin, okay. >> translator: first question, so your question is -- if we are ready to give up on territories? >> translator: it's not only about our wars, it is about what we are ready and what we are not, how ukraine is able to give up its territories, that is insane. we are mentioning -- very open that it is not about free agency, we have all the people there and all the families there, we have children there that are part of ukrainian society, we are talking about human beings, they are being tortured. they have been killed, those voices reach over in our territories, as well to gear up our people. [ indiscernible ] i have a question to these people -- if they want to give up the children to terrorist. i think no. >> people want to see ukraine win the war as i've said before, and means ukraine as a sovereign, independent nation and they can afford to defend itself today and at her further aggression. that's our objective. trevor? >> thank you, sir. first, a question for both of you. given the republican skepticism of the ukraine effort, do you are the that a second term for president trump would be the end of an independent ukraine for both of you, for you, president biden. just an update if you could on the situation in gaza on the reports that israel has begun flooding hamas tunnels and just the offensive in gaza generally, how long do you think that operation should last? >> thank you. >> first of all with regard to political support for ukraine, there is a strong bipartisan political support for ukraine, a small number of republicans who don't want to support ukraine but they don't speak for the majority of the republicans, in my view, weird negotiating to get funding we need, not to promise, not making promises but hopefully we can get there, i think we can. you're right, the world is watching what we do, we just sent a horrible message to aggressors and allies if we walked away, it would hurt our national security. do you want me to answer any other questions as well? in regard to -- say it again? >> sorry, the question was just if you could talk a little bit about the gaza operation, israel flooding hamas tunnels and if you'd had conversations with benjamin netanyahu about how long that operation should last . >> i have had conversations with benjamin netanyahu, i want to make sure that we don't forget what we are doing here, we have to support israel because they are an independent nation that's being -- the brutality, the inhumanity, the way in which hamas treated the israelis. rape , burning, heading. it is beyond comparison. beyond comparison and to anything else i've seen since i have been here, i've been around for a long time but i think we have made it clear to the israelis and they are aware that the independent safety of palestinians is still of great concern. so, the actions they are taking must be consistent with attempting to do everything possible to prevent innocent palestinian civilians from being hurt, murdered, killed, lost, et cetera. look, it does not lessen the responsibility going after hamas and innocent palestinians, and hamas. look, we have had a responsibility to protect citizens, that is why i've worked so hard with our arab friends as well as the israelis to get humanitarian assistance into israel, literally getting up to 140 trucks loaded with gear, food, everything needed by palestinians including fuel, israel has stated its intent to fulfill these responsibilities, it's very difficult with regard to the flooding of the tunnels, i'm not at -- there is assertions being made that there are no hostages in any of these tunnels. i don't know that for a fact, i do know that every civilian death is an absolute tragedy and israel has stated its intent to match its words with its intent, with actions. that's why i was talking about that today. question three? i guess i ask that, >> i'm sorry. >> year term. >> translator: so, addressing your question about a quick why, i have been talking with representatives of both parties, both democrats and republicans approved full legislative support, we will see but before this, we have always been trusting in support of our strategic partner, the united states and will consider it will continue in this way, ukraine will not remain alone against such a critical terrorist in the russian federation. >> thank you so much, next summer, the united states will host a nato summit which raises a lot of hope especially for ukraine. president zelenskyy, what does the ukrainian side expect from the summit? do you hope to hear direct invitation for ukraine to join the alliance? president biden, under what conditions is the united states ready to support the initiative of inviting ukraine to be a member of nato? thank you. >> thank you for your question. i will answer very quickly. this is a very complicated question, we are not allies until now, we are allies but not members of nato. that's why i think i will pass this question to -- [ laughter ] our big friend, president biden. >> look, i'm very proud of how strong and unified nato has become. now it is even larger. putin wanted to be rid of nato when i met with him. in geneva right after i was elected. he's gotten the nato -- instead. they will be in ukraine's future, no question. as we said, ukraine will become a member of nato when all allies agree and conditions are met, right now we had to make sure they win the war. it you know, we launch the joint decoration support alongside president zelenskyy and the g7 leaders. we outlined a long-term commitment to supporting ukraine's defense needs. we also hosted the defense industry conference last week here in d.c. to get critical work done, it's a step at a time. thank you all very much, thank you, everybody. this concludes the press conference, thanks, everybody. >> distinguished guest, remain in your seats while the principals depart. >> president biden and ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy speaking briefly then taking questions from reporters as president zelenskyy seeks more aid for the fight against russia and the russian invasion that begins in every where a 2022, he remains hopeful. more funding for ukraine will come through despite an impasse in congress right now admits republican opposition, zelenskyy reaffirming that them giving any territory to rush is out of the question, it's not even the topic at hand, it's about whether the people of ukraine will continue to be under the oppressive rule of russians who were killing and -- making ukrainian suffer. let's bring in former moscow -- of the note -- new yorker and author of joe biden. tell us what is so different from what we have seen with these two leaders in the past. >> i mean, the last time he was here, and speeches to congress, really rousing welcome, a very emotional tone. zelenskyy is very communicative . in this beginning, it was actually pretty dry. i think both the president, biden, and zelenskyy had their talking points ready to answer that question of failure. is ukraine failing? they both pointed out, taking back 50% of the territory that russia took, pushing back on the black sea, et cetera. i think the emotional part came in you noted that, when vladimir zelenskyy was asked are you ever going to give up a new territory and he immediately -- that's really one of the dilemmas here. some people are saying the war has gone on for so long, why don't you just give up some territory and end it? what he's saying is that that's not going to happen, biden was challenged to define what is this war about? what is the purpose and he said essentially that ukraine defending itself and deterring further aggression. that is probably the most specific thing we've heard so far in terms of strategy, one quick thing. president zelenskyy was asked do you have a plan in the war for 2024, he essentially said i have a plan but i'm not going to tell you what it is. >> right. do you think that this event and this general trip of president zelenskyy to the united states coming to congress, the joint precedent with president biden just now, all of it in totality, do you think this has strengthened or weakened biden's hand as he continues to negotiate with congress over this bill for ukraine and israel aid? >> i think biden laid out in certain unambiguous terms what he sees as the stakes, it was quite striking to your health is poor he was saying in effect and explicitly, if russian propaganda starts cheering for you, you might want to rethink your strategy. there is a feeling that by summoning some of america's memory about why it was americans were so committed to ukraine's defense that that has a way of beating back some of the perhaps republican consensus on this question, i think one of the key points was also as jill indicated what happens next. the republicans get a sense from vladimir putin -- vladimir zelenskyy ? did they get the plan to end this war? that's one of the messages out of today, this is not an open- ended commitment in a moment to also see the end of america's responsibility there. >> all right, thanks to both of you. i appreciate it, as president biden still a long sign ukraine's president was asked about israel and its military operation in gaza. his criticism of prime minister benjamin netanyahu. his change in tone has more calls for and is it palestinian lives to be protected are made. we will talk about that after this quick break, stay with us. >> just moments ago, you heard president joe biden and volodymyr zelenskyy holding a joint conference after he spent the day on capitol hill shaking hands . asking congress for more military aid to support ukraine's defense against russia's ongoing invasion. armor secretary of defense, under president trump mark asper joins me now. thanks for joining us, biden and zelenskyy showing unity in many ways but they also seem to have different views of what ukraine can actually accomplish militarily. behind the scenes, the u.s. might be urging a more conservative approach on the battlefield. ukraine wants to be more aggressive, that is what our sources are telling us. what do you make of that and who do you think is right? >> clearly, president zelenskyy is going to continue to trumpet , he wants full restoration of ukrainian territory to include crimea and he put other things on the table such as reconstruction from russia, holding putin and others responsible for the atrocities and whatnot. on the u.s. side, maybe if that's true and western side, there is obviously a sinking reality this is -- settling into somewhat of a stalemate, the question as well, what happens over the winter months and in the springtime, the chance for another offensive, will that -- the ukrainians have enough western technology to include the long promised f-16s, more tanks, and everything they need, will they adapt tactics to make another run at breaking russian lines, i think -- [ indiscernible ] >> if you were secretary of defense right now, what would you advise the president to do, would you advise him to send more weaponry to spend more aid, that this is a fight worth fighting for ukraine all the way? until russia is completely out, if 89% of their forces have been decimated, it's not completely unsuccessful even if it is a stalemate. >> i think at the political level, president biden needs to, more frequently and forcefully talk about why the united states is supporting ukraine, talk about the strategy and the end state he wants to see, we have never heard that, secondly i would argue we do need to pass a supplemental and get more funding, it's not just about moscow invading a smaller neighbor and conducting a brutal war, that is part of it but it also speaks to western resolved and the fact that china is watching, how we react and respond, how long we hang in there, we will have a bearing on how is using being -- she's drinking going after taiwan. we continue to stand the fight, we need to push to move all the equipment that president zelenskyy has asked for more quickly, finally the europeans need to do more, our other nato allies need to do more in terms of military arms and you -- equipment. >> let's turn to israel because the united nations general assembly, that is all of the countries that are members of the united nations voted overwhelmingly the demand of a cease-fire in gaza, i suppose that is not a surprise given the generally anti-israel bent, what is your reaction? >> democrats share the same view, the u.n. has lost moral high ground a long time ago and maybe they never had it. it matters because it is account with regard to the number of countries, we need to continue to stand behind israel. yes, they need to continue to do more to limit casualties particularly as we enter this next phase and they need to do more to provide humanitarian relief for the innocent people in gaza. at the end of the day, they have to defeat hamas or we will go through the cycle over and over again, hamas leadership has said they celebrate the attacks on october 7th and want to keep doing it. we have to support israel, they need to defeat hamas and we need to work with them to help them address the other issue. >> president biden made off- camera comments to a democratic supporters said israel is beginning to lose global support and that i think benjamin netanyahu has to change and with this government and israel is making it very difficult for him to move specifically talking about the two state solution. he added the current government does not want that solution, he expressed disagreement with benjamin netanyahu and what comes next in gaza after hamas is defeated. benjamin netanyahu wants to keep israeli troops there, what do you make of this disagreement? >> i think the big unanswered question is what does happen after the military operations are done and israel defeats hamas, there will be a period of time in which israel and the idf occupies gaza while that is figured out, there is unanimity mostly around the political spectrum that they do not want to occupy gaza permanently, there needs to be another option for that and arab forces are unlikely, u.n. force is unlikely. the only other option is to -- palestinian authority taking challenge -- charge. it cannot be this palestinian authority because most palestinians regard the p.a. as income event and corrupt, they need a change of leadership in the west bank, the pesto -- palestinian authority and they would be the ones to manage gaza in a post, sarah. >> last question for you, how do you think this current campaign in gaza against hamas is not only intended to root out hamas, but also a deterrent against iran, any other country , any other forces that might also be planning terrorist attacks on israel, saying if you do this to us, this is what will happen to your country, therefore do not do this to us, how much do you think this is rooted in some sign of deterrence? >> clearly that message has been sent whether intended or not, i think if i recall properly, a senior israeli official said something to that effect, these groups are all connected i've said multiple times whether it's hamas, militia groups in iraq, you name it it goes back to iran, they are supporting and conspiring, providing equipment, everything goes back to iran. that is the bigger deterrent message being sent, i get the biden administration credit for sending a carrier strike group and forces to the region to deter these other actors, i ran in particular from opening up another front, i think it is important and that a bigger showdown is coming up. one way or the other. >> they are not there for hamas, it is there for a run. thank you so much, nikki haley says she's about to have a great day in new hampshire, we have a pretty good idea why she so confident, that is next. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ we're back with our 2024 "lead." you might be wondering why i am in a theater in des moines, iowa. i'll tell you in just a few hours, i'm going to moderate a republican presidential town hall with florida governor ron desantis, who will take questions from future iowa caucusgoers. cnn is also on the campaign trail in new hampshire, a first in the nation caucus state, new hampshire is a first in the nation primary state. that's where former south carolina governor nikki haley is expected to get a major endorsement this evening. i'm going to talk right now, even though i'm in iowa, to somebody in new hampshire. jeff zeleny, formerly of "the des moines register," tell us about this expected endorsement. >> jake, iowa and new hampshire are echoes of one another. six weeks from today, the new hampshire primary is going to decide how far this republican race goes. and so nikki haley is going to be collecting the endorsement tonight from new hampshire governor chris sununu. he had been thinking about running for president himself. since the last several months, he's been sizing up the republican field, appearing with the candidates, and he's making his case for nikki haley. he believes she's the candidate who can turn the page from former president donald trump. this comes as a major blow to former new jersey governor chris chr christie, who had been hoping for that endorsement. the race for second place, you there in iowa with florida governor ron desantis has the support of iowa governor kim reynolds. here in new hampshire, nikki haley will have the support from new hampshire governor chris sununu, again emphasizing it's all about the race for second place. but donald trump is still in commanding lead of this entire republican campaign. jake? >> that's right. he has the endorsement of the third in the nation contest in south carolina, governor mcmaster. jeff zeleny, thanks to much. doug hye and erick erickson. you in the communications director for the 2012 gop iowa caucus. you told me in july, if trump wins iowa you think it's over. what do you think desantis needs to do tonight in this town hall and over the next five weeks to change that? >> i think nikki haley timed her announcement with governor sununu to give you another question to ask tonight. but what i would tell ron desantis to do is what i've tried to tell these candidates and campaigns to do for months now. if you want something to change, you have to change. and what we've seen so often is some rhetoric here and there about new generations, i'm a winner, maybe trumpian republicans spend too much. but not really going after donald trump in a way that would do anything to take him down a peg or 12. he needs about 12 pegs at this point to win the nomination. what we've soon from these candidates by and large, whether still in the race or out of the race, they've not been willing to do that hard work to win the nomination. it really needs to the question of, what's then the purpose of your campaign? why are you running? >> eric, nikki haley's support in iowa has remained basically flat at 16% since october. even as some candidates have dropped out since then. what does that tell you? >> i think iowa's probably more aligned with a trump or desantis than hailey. but ted cruz, mike huckabee, they won iowa and never got the nomination. you can't count haley out, but i agree if neither desantis nor haley wants to aggressively go after donald trump from the right, there's no point in this. at this point, they look like they're running for second place. to take out the front-runner, you've got to take out the front-runner. >> doug, new hampshire governor sununu is expected to endorse knickky haley tonight. cnn's polls conducted in new hampshire last month has nicky haley in second place, 20% behind trump's 42%. it is worth noting in the latest ""des moines register"/nbc news poll, voters say the endorsement of governor desantis did not make a difference in their vote. do you think sununu's endorsement will do anything for nicky haley? >> ultimately it's welcome news that she's going to try and push as much as she can. we've heard talk of nikkimentum, the numbers haven't borne that out. we've not seen it in the past for anybody who's gotten an endorsement. there's nothing to suggest that this time is different. >> eric, nikki haley and ron desantis seem to be in this cage match for second place, attacking each other as donald trump seems to be slow walking to the nomination. he's now selling mugshot digital trading cards, capitalizing on georgia's election subversion case against him. but wait, there's more. if you buy the mugshot cards, apparently you also get to be a proud owner of a piece of trump's mugshot suit. what would your big swing be? what would you say in terms of going after trump and really a silver bullet? they have done little things here and there, as doug noted, but nothing that's really taken trump down at all. >> you've got to sustain it. for ron desantis, i think you can make the case that donald trump didn't do the things that ron desantis could or there's a great example of iowa, they had the satanic shrine at the state capitol, it was the trump administration that gave the tax exempt status to that group. you could point that out. haley, the budget and business issues she cares about, she can point out that donald trump didn't do those things. they've got to do sustained attacks. they mention it then go away. they could do the cnn debate in iowa, the two of them, whether just them on stage, differentiate themselves. >> yeah, as of now i believe desantis has accepted. we're waiting to hear from haley. nikki, we're waiting for you. doug, eric, thanks so much. we're a few hours away from a special cnn republican presidential town hall live from des moines, iowa, with florida governor ron desantis. watch that right here on cnn tonight at 9:00 eastern. powerful testimony at the rudy giuliani defamation trial. one witness on the stand in tears. that's next in "the situation room." happening now, breaking news. president biden just wrapping up a press conference with president volodymyr zelenskyy after announcing an additional $200 million in new aid for ukraine. but that's far short of the $60 billion in emergency funding biden says ukraine desperately needs right now to defeat putin's forces. as zelenskyy's visit to washington fails to break the impasse over additional aid. also tonight, rifts between the u.s. and israel spilling into public view. president biden warning that israel is losing international support for its war against hamas, while p m