Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has embarked on a crucial journey to the United States, with the intention of presenting his strategy to conclude the ongoing conflict with Russia to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump.
Zelensky's plan, which he has dubbed a 'victory plan,' will be put forth to the American leaders this week, as he advocates for Ukraine's right to deploy long-range missiles against targets within Russia.
According to the Daily Mail, the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, has been persistently urging the West to grant it the authority to launch deeper strikes into Russia. However, the Biden administration remains unconvinced about the prudence of such a move. U.S. officials are reportedly seeking more comprehensive information about Kyiv's intended use of these weapons and their role within the broader war strategy.
Zelensky, who touched down on American soil on Sunday, commenced his U.S. tour by visiting a Pennsylvania factory that manufactures the much-needed 155mm artillery shells. He is scheduled to visit New York and Washington next. "I began my visit to the United States by expressing my gratitude to all the employees at the plant," Zelensky stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added, "It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail."
This visit follows a summer of intense combat, with Moscow making significant advances in eastern Ukraine and Kyiv retaining control over large portions of Russia's Kursk region. Zelensky has indicated that the forthcoming weeks will be pivotal in determining the outcome of the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives over more than 30 months. "It is now being determined what the legacy of the current generation of states leaders will be. Those in the highest offices," he said.
Zelensky has hinted that he hasn't lost hope of obtaining permission to use long-range weapons, despite the U.S. and U.K.'s reluctance due to fears of escalation. "We have had some decisions in the history of our relationship with Biden -- very interesting and difficult dialogues," Zelensky said, adding: "He later changed his point of view."
Russia, on the other hand, has warned that such approval would be tantamount to NATO countries declaring war on it. A close adviser to Biden stated earlier this month that the U.S. President intends to use his remaining tenure to "put Ukraine in the best possible position to prevail."
Zelensky plans to present his proposals to the U.S. Congress, Harris, and Trump. The White House has confirmed that Zelensky will meet with Vice President Harris separately from Biden, and Zelensky anticipates meeting with Trump later this week. While Harris has indicated her intention to continue Biden's policies on Ukraine, Trump has been highly critical of Washington's substantial aid packages for Kyiv.
Zelensky has stated that his plan aims to ensure that "war will not return to us again in an even bigger wave" in the future. He also mentioned that Kyiv plans to hold meetings throughout the fall and that the "entire plan" will be ready by "early November."
The Ukrainian President has also expressed his intention to invite Russia to a potential second international peace summit in November. However, Russia has declined the invitation and reiterated President Vladimir Putin's conditions for entering talks: that Ukraine surrender four of its regions.
Despite the ongoing conflict and the recent Russian attacks on Ukraine that claimed six lives, including two children, Ukraine has reported striking two arms depots in Russia. Kyiv's army stated that it hit a key ammunition storage base crucial to the Russian army's logistics for its invasion. As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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