Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave President Biden a “frank” update on his army’s slog as Kyiv tries to repel Russian invaders for a third year, according to the White House.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Mr. Zelenskyy, who met with Mr. Biden in Paris on Friday, offered a mixed assessment of Ukraine’s ability to hold off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces.

“He shared a very frank assessment with President Biden about what’s going on and the pressure they remain under, particularly in the East, in the Donbas,” Mr. Kirby said.

At the same time, they “have been able to thwart Russian advances, particularly around Kharkiv,” he added. “The Russians really have kind of stalled out there.”

Mr. Zelenskyy updated Mr. Biden amid fears the Russians have gained the upper hand in the grueling war.

Mr. Biden says House GOP delays in extending a $61 billion aid package held Ukraine back, though senior GOP lawmakers fault the administration for slow-walking advanced weapons systems.

The war in Ukraine will be front and center during a weekend state visit to France.

French President Emmanuel Macron will host Mr. Biden during a two-day event, which will also focus on the war in Gaza. 

“I fully expect that both presidents will have an opportunity to talk about what’s going on in the Middle East,” Mr. Kirby said.

The state visit to Paris will start with a welcome ceremony on Saturday at the Arc de Triomphe and a parade down the Champs-Elysees.

Mr. Biden and Mr. Macron will find ways to deepen their trans-Atlantic cooperation and bolster port security in the Indo-Pacific, according to Mr. Kirby.

They will also discuss ways to improve the climate, a huge Democrat fundraising issue.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.