By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday met with his US counterpart, Joe Biden at the White House where the duo discussed Washington’s support for Kyiv in its defence against Moscow’s invasion.
Zelenskyy also held a meeting with a bipartisan delegation of the US House of Representatives where he presented what he called victory plan against Russia.
“I presented the key points of the Victory Plan, which can strengthen us on the path to peace. We need really strong pressure and strong positions for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
He continued, “We are at a critical juncture in this war. With the Kursk operation, we have shown that Putin does not have the strength to hold out when we apply real pressure. That is why we need strong pressure and strong positions for Ukraine right now to force Russia into peace. And we have prepared a plan, an urgent plan, to strengthen us on the path to victory.”
His working visit which coincides with the ongoing 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York came after the US announced a new package of weapons and nearly $8 billion in aid for Ukraine.
The US leader “outlined his decision to surge US security assistance to Ukraine, and President Zelenskyy presented his plan to achieve victory over Russia,” the White House said in a statement.
The leaders also discussed the diplomatic, economic and military aspects of Zelenskyy’s plan and tasked their teams to engage in intensive consultations regarding next steps, it added.
They agreed to meet on Oct. 12 in Germany, where Biden will host a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
After meeting with Biden, Zelenskyy also met separately with Vice President Kamala Harris, who voiced her “unwavering” support for Ukraine.
In an address at the UNGA on rejected efforts by China and Brazil to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, accusing the duo of proposing an alternative to his own peace formula, warning: “You will not boost your power at Ukraine’s expense.”
“The peace formula has already existed for two years, and maybe somebody wants a Nobel Prize for their political biography, for frozen truce, instead of real peace, but the only prizes Putin will give you in return are more suffering and disasters,” Zelensky told UNGA 79, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Details of the plan presented to the US has not been made public.
