Washington:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Joe Biden on the White Home Thursday to current his wartime “victory plan,” after the US president introduced an $8 billion surge in army assist for Kyiv’s struggle in opposition to Russia.
However Zelensky’s go to was clouded by a blazing row with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that underscored how November’s US election may upend the help that Kyiv receives from its greatest backer.
“Russia won’t prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and we’ll proceed to face by you each step of the best way,” Biden stated as he hosted Zelensky within the Oval Workplace, after thanking him for presenting the so-called victory plan.
Wearing his trademark military-style outfit, Zelensky replied that “we deeply respect that Ukraine and America have stood aspect by aspect.”
Zelensky is seeking to shore up help for his battle effort concurrently Biden tries to lock in assist for Ukraine, forward of the white-knuckle vote pitting Biden’s Vice President Kamala Harris in opposition to firebrand Trump.
The Democrat pledged almost $8 billion in army assist in his announcement on Thursday, together with $5.5 billion to be approved earlier than it expires on the finish of the US fiscal yr on Monday.
Biden stated in a press release that the “surge in safety help for Ukraine” would “assist Ukraine win this battle.”
Biden additionally introduced Washington would offer Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition and known as a summit of allies in Germany in October.
The White Home nevertheless performed down Ukraine’s hopes that Zelensky’s go to would obtain his long-held objective of getting permission to fireplace long-range Western-made missiles into Russian territory.
“I am not anticipating there to be any new bulletins on this explicit motion or a call popping out of this assembly,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre instructed reporters.
Harris was as a result of meet Zelensky individually on the White Home on Thursday.
Zelensky additionally visited the US Congress — the place his authorities stated he had additionally offered his victory plan — and gave a defiant handle on the UN Common Meeting on Wednesday.
– ‘Best salesman on earth’ –
However Zelensky’s go to has prompted contemporary nuclear saber rattling from Moscow, which has repeatedly warned the West in opposition to giving Ukraine long-range arms.
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday introduced plans to broaden Moscow’s guidelines on the usage of its atomic weaponry within the occasion of a “huge” air assault.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken known as the nuclear menace “completely irresponsible” whereas EU overseas coverage spokesman Peter Stano stated Putin was making a “gamble together with his nuclear arsenal.”
Kyiv faces an more and more troublesome battlefield state of affairs two and a half years into Russia’s invasion, with Russian forces persevering with to push into jap Ukraine.
However the US presidential election means Washington’s help now hangs on the steadiness — and with Zelensky apparently at odds with Trump and the Republicans.
Trump had additionally been as a result of meet Zelensky throughout his US go to, however their talks now look like on ice.
Trump accused Zelensky on the eve of the go to of refusing to strike a cope with Moscow and as soon as once more questioned why the US was giving billions of {dollars} to Kyiv.
At an election rally on Wednesday, the Republican known as the Ukrainian president “most likely the best salesman on Earth.”
Republicans have been furious after Zelensky visited an arms manufacturing unit in Biden’s hometown within the battleground state of Pennsylvania earlier this week, with Home Speaker Mike Johnson calling for the Ukrainian ambassador to be sacked.
Zelensky additionally sparked fury in Republican ranks when he instructed The New Yorker journal this week that Trump and his operating mate J.D. Vance didn’t perceive the battle’s complexity.
Trump has echoed a lot of Putin’s speaking factors about earlier US coverage being guilty for the Russian invasion, and has been vital of Zelensky for years.
The US has supplied round $175 billion in each army and financial help to Ukraine through the battle, regardless of frequent opposition from Republicans.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by EDNBOX employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)