Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting the United States in a last ditch plea to save the multi-billion dollar aid package being blocked by Congress.

The Ukrainian president will on Tuesday meet Republican House speaker Mike Johnson and Senate leader Mitch McConnell in Washington as he bids to persuade their party to back $61bn (£48bn) in new military aid proposed by President Joe Biden.

The package has been held up in Congress by Republicans who want to see greater funding for security along the border with Mexico.

“When the free world hesitates, that’s when dictatorships celebrate,” Mr Zelensky said on Monday in an address at Washington’s National Defense University.

The Ukrainian leader will address senators at 2pm GMT (9am ET) and hold a joint press conference with Mr Biden at 9.15pm GMT (4.15pm ET).

National security council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that the White House would provide Ukraine with “additional security assistance” by the end of the year with or without Congress’s support.

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