new package of $1.85 billion in security assistance to ukraine, which includes a patriot missile battery. it s the most significant aid transfer the u.s. has made since the beginning of the war, which fulfill as request from kyiv and gives them new strength to defend their cities. today john kirby said the conditions on the ground have really shifted as winter has set in. putin s increasingly relied on ballistic missile and cruise missiles and drones. the u.s. being careful not to frame this patriot system as any kind of an escalation. we re certainly not encouraging attacks inside russia. we re not encouraging attacks outside of ukraine. we don t believe that an escalation beyond what is already been an escalated conflict in terms of what he, putin, is doing against civilian targets. the cell lin said moscow will
what she called a special night for democracy. it ll be interesting to see how many senators are there. it looks like they will be here when he speaks later tonight. convicter? victor? some of them are trying to beat the weather as well. jessica dean on capitol hill. thank you. this special aid package that biden is expected to unveil today will include a patriot missile system. this has been a longstanding request of ukraine s to defend off russia s air attacks. we re going to continue to strengthen the ability of ukraine in air defense and we re going to provide you with a patriot missile battery, and training your forces to be able to accurately use it. cnn s oren liebermann is with us. explain why this is the system that s so important to ukrainians. they have been asking for this for so long. reporter: it s not just the capability behind the patriot
of billions of dollars in aid. in the next hour we are expecting the two leaders to hold a press conference at the white house, we will go live to that when the two leaders appear, but before that we are going to discuss the importance of the visit and what is at stake for ukraine and president zelensky. for the moment, you are in the light, and that is precisely the point. you are with us by virtue of a generator, 80% of the electricity in kyiv is intermittent or off at the moment. and that explains to people around the world by this patriot missile battery is so important. patriot missile battery is so important- patriot missile battery is so imortant. ~ , ~ ., ., important. absolutely. we have air raids every important. absolutely. we have air raids every day- important. absolutely. we have air raids every day. today important. absolutely. we have air raids every day. today we - important. absolutely. we have air raids every day. today we had - important. absolutely. we have
today, i m announcing the next traunch of our security assistance to uk $1.85 billion package of security assistance includes both the direct transfers of equipment to ukraine and contracts to supply ammunition ukraine will need in the months ahead for its artillery and tanks, and rocket launchers. critically, in addition to these new capabilities, like precision aerial munitions, the package includes a patriot missile battery which will train ukrainian forces to operate as part of the on going effort to help bolster ukraine s air defense. this is going to take some time to complete the necessary training. but patriot battery will be another critical asset for ukraine as they defend themselves against russian aggression. all together, today s new security assistance with humanitarian funding amounts to $2.2 billion in additional support for the ukrainian
days ago. the first wartime leader to address the u.s. congress since winston churchill, set to address congress tonight and the american people, a short time from now, and of course, we ll carry it live here on abc. but first tonight, the images today, president biden greeting president zelenskyy at the white hoe.zenskyling under iniblyht sayin in the oval office capta o th f lines whoesident biden to i ws cfee ti ago. the aen patriot missile battery to ukraine. zelenskyy has been asking for this for quite some time. as congress now considering $45 billion more in new funding. so, what does president zelenskyy say tonight before congress and the american people? and why the trip now, under extraordinary security? abc s rachel scott leading us off tonight from capitol hill. reporter: with a warm handshake, president biden and