WASHINGTON -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a unified message on the status of the war in Ukraine on December 21 as Zelenskiy met with Biden at the White House and received more assurances that the United States will continue to stand by Ukraine.
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Biden announced a new $1.85 billion security assistance package for Ukraine that includes a Patriot air-defense battery and said during a joint news conference after a two-hour meeting with Zelenskiy in the Oval Office that the United States shares his vision of a "free, independent, prosperous and secure Ukraine."
Biden promised Zelenskiy that he "will never stand alone" and said that Washington wants to ensure that when Zelenskiy is ready to negotiate a settlement with Moscow, he will "be able to succeed as well because he would have won on the battlefield."
Zelenskiy thanked the American people for their support but expressed little hope for the prospects for peace in the new year, saying the war will only end with Ukraine's sovereignty restored and "payback" from Russia.
"For me as a president, 'just peace' is no compromises as to the sovereignty, freedom, and territorial integrity of my country [and] the payback for all the damages inflicted by Russian aggression," Zelenskiy said.
Biden stressed that the Patriot system that is part of the new security assistance package is "a defensive system" and "not escalatory." He added: "We'd love not to have them used -- just stop the attacks."
Zelenskiy said the Patriots were the strongest part of the new package. It means he will have "good news" when he returns to Kyiv and said it is "a very important step" for the protection of Ukraine's airspace.
Ukrainian leaders have pleaded for the Patriots to be provided, and Zelenskiy said during the news conference he would likely ask for more. Ukraine needs them to prevent the destruction of the country's civilian infrastructure, including loss of electricity and heat in the cold winter months.
The Patriot systems, however, will not be deployed immediately because U.S. troops will first have to train Ukrainian forces on how to use and maintain the system.
The Patriot is considered one of the most advanced U.S. air-defense systems and offers protection against aircraft, cruise, and ballistic missiles. The surface-to-air guided missile system typically includes launchers along with radar and other support vehicles.
WATCH: Ukrainian soldiers defending the key eastern city of Bakhmut say the battles are constant and "cruel," describing ineffective Russian tactics that are endlessly repeated. They say Russian soldiers advance, Ukrainian artillery destroys them, then more come the next day. Captured Russians say their comrades face execution on desertion charges if they don't keep moving.
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Ukrainian Troops Say Russian 'Zombies' Repeatedly Attack Lines Around Bakhmut
The State Department said in a statement that the missile systems are "capable of bringing down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and aircraft at a significantly higher ceiling than previously provided air-defense systems."
Biden welcomed Zelenskiy to the White House earlier on December, telling the Ukrainian president it was an "honor to be by your side in the united defense against what is a brutal, brutal war."
Zelenskiy, dressed in a military-style olive green sweater and trousers, presented Biden with a medal as he expressed gratitude for the U.S. president's role in helping Ukraine and rallying the support of other allies.
Zelenksiy was scheduled to go from the White House to the U.S. Capitol to meet with congressional leaders and speak to a joint session of Congress later in the evening.
The visit -- Zelenskiy's first trip abroad since the start of Russia's invasion -- comes as Congress prepares to vote on a sweeping spending bill that includes a provision to allocate an estimated $45 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine.
The Kremlin on December 21 warned that increasing the supply of U.S. arms to Ukraine would aggravate the war. Speaking during a meeting with military leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin also said Moscow would develop its armed forces and strengthen the capability of its troops.
Special emphasis will be placed on developing nuclear forces, which he described as “the main guarantee of Russia’s sovereignty.” Putin also said the Russian military's new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which will form the core of Russia’s nuclear forces, will enter service shortly.