Biden Welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for White House Meeting on Tuesday

President Joe Biden is set to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House on Tuesday, as negotiations for a Ukraine aid deal are currently at a standstill in Congress. This visit, announced by the White House on Sunday, marks Zelensky's second trip to Washington since the start of the war in Ukraine, with his last visit occurring in September.

Zelensky's visit coincides with a crucial stage in congressional talks on emergency aid for Ukraine. Despite this, Congress seems no closer to reaching an agreement that links immigration and border policy changes to the aid package, which includes funding for Ukraine and Israel, before lawmakers depart for the holidays. Additionally, the Ukrainian president has been invited to address an all-senators meeting on Tuesday morning by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, according to a Senate leadership aide.

The Ukrainian presidency office announced that the pair will hold a series of meetings on Tuesday to discuss "enhanced defense cooperation." President Zelensky will emphasize the importance of securing unity among the US, Europe, and other global allies in supporting Ukraine's defense against Russia. Additionally, the focus will be on strengthening the international order by upholding rules and respecting the sovereignty of nations.

Zelensky and Biden will also address defensive cooperation efforts for the upcoming year, including collaborating on the production of weapons and air defense systems. If Congress fails to reach a deal before the holidays, the White House may have to make difficult decisions regarding supplying allies like Ukraine, which could impact US military readiness. Biden administration officials have been raising concerns for weeks about Ukraine's dwindling funding and the possible repercussions.

The proposed aid package of $106 billion from the administration includes approximately $60 billion to support Ukraine's defenses against Russia, while the remaining funds will be allocated towards Israel's conflict with Hamas, security in Taiwan, and funding for operations at the US-Mexico border. However, leading Republicans are cautious about providing additional aid on top of the $111 billion already sent to Ukraine and have called for any further funding to be linked to significant immigration-related policy adjustments.

Earlier this month, Biden stated, "Those who turn their back on the cause of freedom will be judged harshly by history. We cannot allow Putin to emerge victorious." The president expressed his willingness to make "significant compromises on the border," acknowledging that the country's immigration system is "broken." However, he emphasized that Ukraine's needs cannot be delayed. Biden also criticized "extreme Republicans" for their role in the impasse over border security, accusing them of "playing chicken with our national security."

Biden expressed disbelief at the current situation, stating, "I think it's stunning we got to this point in the first place. Russian forces are committing war crimes - it's as simple as that. It's stunning." Ukraine reported that Russia conducted nearly 100 air attacks in 24 hours, prompting the country's first lady to warn of "mortal danger" without Western military aid.

"We desperately need help," said Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska in a recent interview with the BBC. "To put it simply, we cannot afford to tire of this situation, because if we do, it means death for us.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Michael Williams and Betsy Klein, Priscilla Alvarez and Lauren Fox contributed to this report.