Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United States on Sunday for a critical visit aimed at presenting Kyiv’s “victory plan” to end two and a half years of war with Russia. He will meet with President Joe Biden, along with presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, as the U.S. continues to oppose Ukraine’s use of NATO weapons against targets in Russia. This visit follows a summer marked by intense fighting, with Russian forces advancing in eastern Ukraine while Kyiv maintains control over parts of Russia’s Kursk region.
Zelensky’s discussions with Biden, scheduled for Thursday, will focus on persuading the U.S. to allow the use of long-range weapons, which Ukraine has sought for weeks. During the initial leg of his trip, he visited a Pennsylvania factory producing essential 155mm artillery shells, expressing gratitude to the workers and emphasizing the importance of democratic resilience.
Zelensky indicated that the coming weeks will be pivotal in determining the outcome of the prolonged conflict, emphasizing the historical significance of decisions made by current leaders. While he acknowledged that the U.S. and UK have yet to grant permission for long-range strikes due to concerns over escalation, he remains hopeful, recalling past dialogues with Biden that shifted perspectives.
He plans to unveil the full details of Ukraine’s proposals to Biden first before sharing them with other allies. The plan aims for a “fair and stable peace” to prevent future conflicts and outlines immediate steps for strengthening Ukraine’s military capabilities and ensuring its role in global security. Zelensky also expressed intentions to invite Russia to a potential international peace summit in November, though Moscow has stated it would not participate under its current conditions.
“I believe both sides are still hoping for a military victory,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told CNN on Sunday, expressing doubt about any genuine interest in peace talks. Efforts to initiate negotiations have so far been unsuccessful.
As Zelensky returns to Kyiv, Russian attacks over the weekend resulted in the deaths of six people, including two children, and a strike on Kharkiv wounded 21 in a residential area. This follows Ukraine’s announcement that it successfully targeted two arms depots in Russia, hitting a key ammunition storage site critical to Russian military logistics for its invasion.
