What Biden and Zelensky Gifted Each Other

In keeping with this season of giving, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his U.S. counterpart exchanged gifts of a military nature at the White House on Wednesday.

In an emotional moment at the Oval Office, Zelensky said a "real hero" in his armed forces had asked him to give Ukraine's Cross of Military Merit, awarded for valor in battle, to President Joe Biden.

Zelensky said that the medal belonged to "Pavlo," who was a commander of a U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System in the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, where brutal fighting continues.

"He's very brave, and he said, 'Give it to a very brave president,'" Zelensky told Biden. He also handed the U.S. president a letter from the officer written in Ukrainian and translated into English, according to footage shared by The Washington Post.

Biden described the gift as a "great honor," adding that it was "undeserved but much appreciated." In return, Biden presented Zelensky with a U.S. command coin that was to be given to the officer who had offered up his Ukrainian medal. He also gave the Ukrainian president another coin, The Hill reported.

"We have a tradition here, and I will give it to him. My son, who fought in Iraq, they have what they call a command coin. Have you seen those coins we get in the battlefield?" Biden said. "I will make sure he gets one of those."

A source of pride for troops who receive them, command coins are pocket-size medallions that are awarded for performance. Each coin has the symbols and mottos of the unit, service branch or office. Presidents, vice presidents and other top officials have their own coins that they give to those they believe are worthy of them.

What Biden also gave Zelensky was a guarantee of further military support for Kyiv to counter Russian aggression. Along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden announced that the U.S. would provide $1.85 billion in additional military assistance for Ukraine, including Patriot missile defense systems.

The meeting between the presidents preceded Zelensky's speech to Congress Wednesday night, in which he thanked lawmakers and the American public for their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Melinda Haring, deputy director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, said the Ukrainian president's address was aimed at telling Congress "that the fight for Ukraine is not just Kyiv's problem."

"Zelensky was at his best when he teased Congress and said Ukrainian soldiers are more than capable of using American tanks and planes," she told Newsweek.

He also "dangled red meat in front of Republicans, as he warned that Iran's provision of drones to Russia for use in Ukraine cannot be overlooked, or Tehran will threaten other allies," Haring said.