Zelenskyy Visits the U.S. to Discuss Victory Plan with Biden, Harris, and Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has started a crucial visit to the United States to share his plan for ending the ongoing war with Russia. He will meet with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump during his trip.

Zelenskyy will also attend the annual United Nations meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he aims to gather support for what he calls a “victory plan” for Ukraine. He plans to present his peace proposals to Biden on Thursday and hopes to meet with Harris and Trump on the same day or Friday.

This visit comes after a summer of intense fighting, with Russian forces advancing in eastern Ukraine while Ukraine has taken some areas in Russia’s Kursk region.

Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to a munitions plant in Pennsylvania, where 155mm artillery shells are made. These shells are crucial for Ukraine’s military efforts, and the U.S. has already sent over 3 million of them to Ukraine. Zelenskyy thanked the workers at the plant, saying it is places like this where the democratic world can show its strength.

Details about Ukraine’s latest peace proposals have not been made public yet. Zelenskyy stated that Biden would be the first foreign leader to see the complete plan, which will also be shared with other partner countries. He mentioned that the full plan would be ready by early November.

The proposals include “quick and concrete steps” from Ukraine’s strategic partners, such as enhancing Ukraine’s military capabilities and establishing a clear role for Ukraine in global security.

The 155mm shells produced at the Pennsylvania plant are used in howitzer systems, which can hit targets up to 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 km) away. Zelenskyy has been urging the U.S. and its allies to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range weapons to target military sites deep inside Russia, but Biden has been hesitant, as Moscow claims this would mean NATO countries are “at war” with Russia.

Zelenskyy’s visit also coincides with U.S. plans to send a new military aid package worth $375 million to Ukraine. This package is expected to include patrol boats, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), and more 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition.