December 21, 2022 Russia-Ukraine and Zelensky news

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s arrival 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.

Zelensky compared his nation’s resistance against Russia with Britain’s lonely defiance of the Nazis in the days before the US entered World War II during a video address to the UK Parliament earlier this year, and his arrival in the US capital will sharpen the parallels to the earlier meeting of Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt.

Over days of brainstorming and meetings – fueled by Churchill’s regime of sherry with breakfast, Scotch and sodas for lunch, champagne in the evening and a tipple of 90-year-old brandy before bed – the two leaders plotted the defeat of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan and laid the foundation of the Western alliance that Biden has reinvigorated in his support for Ukraine.

Churchill, who had pined for US involvement in World War II for months and knew it was the key to defeating Adolf Hitler, said during his visit, “I spend this anniversary and festival far from my country, far from my family, and yet I cannot truthfully say that I feel far from home.”

Zelensky is sure to get that kind of hero’s welcome and will hope that extra US support will mean that Washington has truly “drawn the sword for freedom and cast away the scabbard,” as Churchill said of the Roosevelt administration in his address to Congress on Dec. 26, 1941.

The Ukrainian leader is likely to appreciate the historical parallels. He paraphrased one of Churchill’s most famous wartime speeches in an emotional address to British members of parliament in March. “We will not surrender, we will not lose, we will go to the end.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that it “became obvious” that war in Ukraine was unavoidable, claiming it's "better today than tomorrow" that it happened.

“It became obvious that clashes with these forces, including in Ukraine, were inevitable. The only question was when it would happen,” he said during a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry board. 

He reiterated that Russia’s goals in Ukraine will be achieved.

He also said Moscow has “no limits” when it comes to financing its military. 

“The government will give everything the army needs," he said. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is continuing the development of hypersonic missile systems, which the country has previously used in Ukraine — the first known use of such missiles in combat.

Putin claimed the missiles "are unique in their characteristics and have no analogues in the world." 

Speaking at a meeting with Russian defense chiefs about next year's military objectives, Putin added that a new frigate, the Admiral Gorshkov “will enter combat service” in January 2023. 

The frigate will have the capabilities to fire “the latest Zircon sea-based hypersonic missiles systems,” he said, adding that the Zircon missile deliveries have begun.

Some context: Essentially, all missiles are hypersonic — which means they travel at least five times the speed of sound. Almost any warhead released from a rocket miles in the atmosphere will reach this speed heading to its target. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin downplayed the effectiveness of the missiles back in March, telling CBS that he "would not see it as a game-changer."

US President Joe Biden just tweeted ahead of his surprise visit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this afternoon, expressing good wishes to Zelensky and writing that the two leaders have "much to discuss."

US President Joe Biden invited his Ukrainian counterpart to Washington this week because he determined the war in Ukraine had entered a new stage, a top US official said Wednesday.

"The President really believes that as we approach winter, as we enter ... a new phase in this war, Mr. Putin's aggression, that this is a good time for the two leaders to sit down face to face and talk," said John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator at the National Security Council, on "CNN This Morning."

The talks are expected to center on continued US military and economic assistance, along with sustaining sanctions on Russia and supporting the Ukrainian people.

But Kirby said the two would also discuss how the war might end — a sensitive topic that's been the subject of some disagreements among Western leaders.

He said Zelensky was cognizant of the risks he was taking in leaving Ukraine, and the US was working to ensure the trip is safe.

"We are working in lockstep with him and his staff to make sure we can make this trip safely, both coming through the United States, and coming back. We will continue to support his travel requirements as best we can," he said.

He declined to say when the sophisticated Patriot missile defense system that Biden is expected to announce Wednesday would be operational inside Ukraine.

"It takes a long time for our troops to get trained on how to operate them. So, we will have to factor all of that in," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to address a joint meeting of Congress at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Prior to his address, Zelensky will meet with President Joe Biden and the two will convene a White House news conference. Biden is expected to announce he is sending nearly $2 billion in additional security assistance to Ukraine, including a sophisticated new air defense system.

An American military aircraft was involved in bringing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington for his meetings Wednesday, according to US officials.

The US was heavily involved in the security arrangements to bring Zelensky from and back to Ukraine for the first time since the Russian invasion began.

After Zelensky accepted Biden's invitation to visit a week ago, the two sides immediately began making the security arrangements for the visit.

Zelensky plans to leave Washington immediately after his address to Congress on Capitol Hill, making his visit only a matter of a few hours.

Zelensky traveled to Poland by train as part of his journey to the United States on Wednesday.

Video by CNN affiliate TVN in Poland captured the moment Zelensky arrived by train in Przemysl, near the Polish-Ukrainian border. The shot date is Dec. 21, but does not give an indication of time.

Zelensky is then seen in a white 4x4 vehicle waiting to depart in a convoy.

According to TVN, Zelensky then flew to from Rzeszow airport on his way to Washington. Zelensky was seen with US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Ann Brink.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday that "partial mobilization" has been a "serious trial" for Russia and its army. 

"It has become a criterion for the maturity of Russian society and a serious trial for the country and the armed forces,” he told a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry board in Moscow. 

Some background: Moscow announced in October that its “partial mobilization” of hundreds of thousands of citizens to fight in the country’s war on Ukraine had been completed. The announcement in late September sparked protests and an exodus of men from the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia needs to “continue to support and improve readiness” of its nuclear weapons.  

“We need to continue to support, and to improve the readiness of our nuclear units. This is the main guarantee of our sovereignty and territorial integrity.  A strategic priority is the overall balance of power in the world,” he told a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry board in Moscow. 

Putin also accused key NATO countries of using their military potential against Russia. 

Putin claimed that Moscow’s “strategic adversaries” have been planning to “disintegrate, weaken and divide” Russia.

“Our strategic adversaries have the goal of disintegrating and weakening, dividing our country. This has been going on for centuries. [Russia is] too big, as they think, a country that poses a threat to someone. Therefore, it needs to be broken down, cut down a little,” he said. 

His speech started right after those in attendance observed a moment of silence for those who "gave their lives for the motherland.”