The president of Ukraine has called on world leaders to consider their legacy and stated that the course of events following over thirty months of fighting will be determined in the upcoming weeks.
Sunday saw the arrival in the United States of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, for an important visit intended to explain Kiev’s strategy to end its 2.5-year war with Russia.
Zelensky will address President Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and other presidential contenders with his ideas, which he refers to as a “victory plan”.
Following a summer of fierce fighting, during which Kiev held onto large portions of Russia’s Kursk region while Moscow advanced quickly into eastern Ukraine, the visit takes place.
It also coincides with Kiev’s weeks-long, fruitless pressure on the West to grant it permission to employ long-range weaponry that have been provided to hit targets located deep within Russia.
Zelenskyy is anticipated to make an effort to persuade Biden to reconsider.
Zelenskyy declared on social media, “We have arrived in the United States of America.” “The plan for Ukraine’s victory will be on the table for all our allies.”
Without providing any specifics, he said he was beginning the journey in Pennsylvania for a “special visit” before moving on to New York and Washington.
Zelenskyy urged international leaders to consider their legacy and stated that the next few weeks will determine how over thirty months of fighting that has claimed thousands of lives would conclude.
What the present generation of state officials will leave behind is currently being decided. those holding the top positions,” he remarked.
Prior to his trip, Zelenskyy made remarks that he had not given up hope that Biden would reverse course, citing concerns about escalation as the reason the US and UK have not allowed Ukraine to utilize long-range missiles.
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy stated, “We have had some decisions in the history of our relationship with Biden—very interesting and difficult dialogues,” and added, “He later changed his point of view.”
According to Moscow, the West and Russia are “at war” over this directive.
“Stable and just peace”
This month, a close aide to US President Joe Biden stated that the latter will utilize his remaining days in office to “put Ukraine in the best possible position to prevail”.
Ukraine’s strategy to put a stop to hostilities has not been disclosed to the public.
Zelenskyy stated that Biden will be the first international leader to view the plan “in full” and that “all leaders of our partner countries” will also be shown the plan after that.
Zelenskyy intends to deliver the recommendations to Trump, Harris, and the US Congress.
Trump has been extremely skeptical of Washington’s large aid packages for Kiev, while Harris has stated she will carry on Biden’s policy for Ukraine.
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy stated that the plan aims to ensure that “war will not return to us again in an even bigger wave” in the years to come and that Ukraine needs a “fair and stable peace”.
According to him, Kiev would hold talks all fall long and have the “full plan” completed by “early November.”
He stated to the reporters on Friday that “quick and concrete steps by our strategic partners” are part of the plans.
“Unambiguous space for Ukraine”
He stated that some of such actions are “related to strengthening Ukraine’s weapons capabilities” and that others call for Ukraine to have a “clear place in the world’s security architecture.”
Zelenskyy has also stated that he intends to extend an invitation to Russia for a potential second international peace summit in November, citing the fact that “all” of Ukraine’s allies believe Moscow ought to be invited “because it is Russia that is fighting Ukraine.”
However, Moscow announced this past weekend that it will not be present and cited President Vladimir Putin’s demands for Ukraine to cede four of its regions in order to start talks.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated, “I think both are still betting on the possibility of a military victory,” indicating a lack of genuine desire in negotiations.
Up until now, attempts to encourage peace talks have been unsuccessful.
Zelenskyy is on his way to Kiev as a result of Russian strikes on the country that resulted in six deaths this weekend, including two children, and 21 injuries in a residential area of Kharkiv.
Additionally, he takes off the day after the Ukrainian army claimed to have damaged two Russian armament warehouses, one of which was crucial to the Russian army’s wartime logistics.
