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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited his American counterpart Joe Biden in the Oval Office yesterday, to present a “victory plan” in the war that Kiev is waging against Moscow, after the American president announced additional military aid to Ukraine amounting to eight billion dollars.
But Zelensky’s visit was overshadowed by a debate with the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, which showed how the November elections could completely change the landscape regarding the support that Kiev receives from Washington.
When he received Zelensky and thanked him for presenting what he called the “victory plan,” Biden said: “Russia will not win. Ukraine will win, and we will continue to stand by your side at every step.”
Zelensky responded by saying: “We highly appreciate that Ukraine and the United States stand side by side.”
Zelensky is looking to mobilize support for his forces, while Biden seeks to provide aid to Ukraine, before the presidential elections in which Vice President Kamala Harris is running against Trump.
Yesterday, the Democratic president pledged to provide military aid worth about $8 billion, including $5.5 billion that must be approved before the end of the US fiscal year on Monday.
Biden said that increasing military aid would help Ukraine win the war.
Biden also announced that Washington would provide Ukraine with long-range ammunition for a “joint standoff weapon” in order to “enhance Ukraine’s ability to carry out long-range strikes.”
But the White House downplayed the hopes that Ukraine pinned on Zelensky’s visit to Washington in terms of achieving its goal of obtaining permission to launch long-range Western missiles on Russian territory.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement to reporters: “I do not expect that there will be any new announcement about this particular procedure, or that this meeting will lead to a decision.”
Later, Harris assured Zelensky, whom she met at the White House, that her “support for the Ukrainian people is firm,” denouncing projects that urge Ukraine to “surrender,” in reference to her Republican opponent.
Zelensky visited Congress, where his government announced that he had presented his plan. He also delivered a speech before the United Nations General Assembly the day before yesterday.
