A top Ukrainian official has extended an invitation to Joe Biden to meet with President Zelensky - saying that no one should be afraid of visiting the country, as long as they "are brave".
Speaking to CNN on Friday, Ihor Zhovka - who serves as President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief diplomatic adviser - proposed that the POTUS meet with the Ukrainian leader in-person next week.
President Biden is set to travel to Brussels for a NATO summit next week, per the Daily Mail, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues.
Speaking with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Zhovka revealed that Zelensky is "disappointed" that the United States and NATO has not done more to support Ukraine by implementing a no-fly zone over Ukraine's airspace.
Check out the interview below:Zhovka explained to Blitzer that Ukraine is successfully combating Russian forces on the ground, but that it is struggling against Russian airstrikes.
"What we really lack is support in the air," Zhovka said, adding: "If NATO is not able to provide us with a humanitarian no-fly zone, please provide us with fighter jets, please provide us with anti-missile air defense systems."
Zhovka added: "My president will keep doing this. He spoke about this in the US Congress. He’s talking about this on a daily basis."
Biden has warned that if the US was to impose a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace, it would serve as an "act of war" against Russia.
Blitzer then questioned in President Zelensky will try to meet with President Biden next week while the POTUS is in Brussels.
In response, Zhovka said: "Well, you know, just this week, three prime ministers of three friendly nations – Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovenia – visited, personally, Kyiv, and they met personally with President Zelensky."
Zhovka then questioned: "So why [doesn’t] President Biden come to Ukraine to meet with the president?"
Questioning the response, Blitzer then asked: "That would be pretty dangerous though, don’t you think?"
To which Zhovka replied: "Well, definitely it is dangerous when you have a war against my country, a war in Europe."
However, he then added: "So, one should not be afraid to -- if you are brave, if you are not afraid, you win the war."
Blitzer then concluded the interview, stating: "We’ll see if the president of the United States accepts that invitation from the president of Ukraine."
If you would like to know how you can support the Ukrainian people at this time, click HERE to find a list of organizations and groups dedicated to helping those affected by this crisis.
