Washington/Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit the United States next week, meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, and potentially with former President Donald Trump. The visit comes as Zelenskyy seeks to solidify support ahead of the upcoming US presidential election in November, which could significantly impact Washington’s stance on the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
During his visit, Zelenskyy will present a “victory plan” to US leaders, aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia. The Ukrainian leader has been a vocal advocate for continued Western support, emphasizing the importance of long-range weaponry to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement confirming the meeting, saying, “The president and vice president will emphasize their unshakeable commitment to stand with Ukraine until it prevails in this war.”
President Biden also expressed his eagerness to host Zelenskyy, stating, “I’m looking forward to hosting my friend President Zelenskyy. During his visit, I’ll reaffirm America’s commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends its freedom and independence.”
In a notable move, the Ukrainian presidency revealed that Zelenskyy intends to meet with “the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump.” However, there has been no immediate confirmation from Trump’s team regarding this potential meeting. Trump has previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and has refrained from firmly taking a stance on the war, merely stating in a recent debate with Harris, “I want the war to stop.”
Ukraine and its NATO allies remain concerned that a potential Trump return to office could result in a shift in US support for Kyiv, especially given his history of favorable comments about Russia.
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Additionally, Zelenskyy has been pushing the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to launch Western-made long-range weapons into Russian territory. While Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have delayed a decision on this matter, further discussions are expected during next week’s United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.
Zelenskyy announced last week that his “victory plan” to end the war is now “fully prepared” and intends to present it to Biden during their meeting this month.
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Furthermore, the Ukrainian president plans to host another international peace summit in November, outlining his strategy to bring an end to the war, with an invitation extended to Russia as well.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has now stretched beyond 30 months, with Ukraine gaining control over parts of Russia’s Kursk region, while Moscow continues its offensive in eastern Ukraine.
