Biden, Harris and Trump have a victory plan on the table

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's trip to the United States was an eventful one. Ukraine secured a record amount of aid, presented a “victory plan,” and looks set to become one of the loudest topics in the US presidential race.

RBC-Ukraine summarizes the main results.

Scandal over the trip to Pennsylvania

The visit began with a visit to a munitions plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It is fully loaded to meet Ukraine's needs for the production of 155 mm caliber shells. Later, at a meeting with Governor Josh Shapiro and local top Democrats, they signed an agreement on state cooperation with Zaporizhzhia region. The main areas of cooperation include energy, agriculture and defense.

The plant in Scranton (President Joe Biden's hometown) is a landmark enterprise for the Democratic election campaign. The White House often cited the plant as an example of how military aid to Ukraine creates jobs. In addition, Pennsylvania is a key swing state. The outcome of the election here is likely to determine who will become the next president of the United States.

The fact that there was not a single Republican among those who accompanied Zelenskyy caused a scandal. In particular, this was seen as open support for Kamala Harris. And Donald Trump's campaign did not miss the opportunity to accuse the president of interfering in the election.

He himself said that Zelensky allegedly wants Harris to win and made a sharp attack on him. “I think Zelenskyy is the greatest salesman in history: every time he comes to the country, he leaves with $60 billion,” Trump said and promised that if he wins, he will change the US approach to Ukraine.

Key statements on war and peace

At the events of the 79th UN General Assembly, Zelenskyy made a number of important statements. At the plenary session of the Future Summit, he emphasized that Ukraine needs peace and stable development.

“We are preparing a document that will be presented at the second World Summit. I invite all leaders and nations to continue to support our joint efforts for a just and peaceful future. Putin has stolen a lot, but he will never be able to steal the future of the world,” the President said.

Later, at the UN Security Council, he expressed hope that one day this room would say that Russia's war against Ukraine is over. But not because someone is tired of the war or has bargained something from Putin. But because the UN Charter will start working. “It has to work. Our Ukrainian right to self-defense must prevail,” Zelensky said.

Russia has no answers to the question of why it is “defeating” schools and hospitals and fighting to cut off the electricity supply to a neighboring country. Putin has nothing to say about why he is trying to engage Belarus and de facto making Iran and North Korea his allies. And as winter approaches, Russia is acting cynically in its attempts to destroy Ukraine's energy sector.

“They are preparing to attack our nuclear power plants, three of them. If Russia is willing to go that far, then nothing you value matters to Moscow,” he said.

To move closer to ending the war, a second Peace Summit is needed. Ukraine invites everyone to join the process - China, Brazil, India, countries of Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, etc., the president added.

Later, in an interview with ABC News, he will say that the victory plan should strengthen Ukraine. “This is very important. I think we are closer to peace than we think. We are closer to the end of the war,” Zelensky said.

He began his big speech at the General Assembly with Russian nuclear threats. He also said that strikes on the energy sector are one of Putin's methods of trying to “torture millions of Ukrainians.” The dictator is currently planning attacks on nuclear power plants. He receives detailed information via satellites from other countries. But any strike, any critical accident could lead to a nuclear disaster.

“If, God forbid, Russia provokes a nuclear disaster at one of our nuclear power plants, the radiation will not respect state borders, and, unfortunately, different nations will feel its devastating consequences,” the president said.

Victory plan again without details

The day before, Zelenskyy held a private meeting with Biden and presented a victory plan that has been actively discussed for more than a month. But again, without much detail. “Let me be frank. Russia is not going to win the war,” Biden said and promised further assistance.

It is known that the parties have coordinated their views and will consult on the next steps. The leaders discussed the diplomatic, economic, and military aspects of the plan, and will study it in detail in the coming weeks. Progress is to be reviewed at the next meeting. It will take place on October 12 in Germany as part of a meeting of the contact group in the Ramstein format.

As planned, Zelenskyy showed the plan to presidential candidate Kamala Harris (Democratic Party). She emphasized that no questions about the war could be resolved without Ukraine. Although “some in the United States” are trying to force Ukraine to cede territory.

“These proposals sound similar to Putin's proposals. But these are not proposals for peace - they are proposals for surrender. This is dangerous and unacceptable,” she added, apparently alluding to signals from the Republican camp.

Before the meeting in New York's Trump Tower, the Republican candidate dodged the question of whether Ukraine should cede territory, saying that peace was needed. And then he said that they shared a common view that the war should be stopped. Trump boasted of his good relationship with Putin, and Zelenskyy responded by expressing hope that his relationship with Trump was better. “It takes two to tango,” the latter said, referring to the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

The meeting lasted about an hour. Afterward, Trump said he wanted a “fair deal for everyone.” According to him, he learned a lot during the talks with Zelenskyy. “We need to do everything to put pressure on Putin to stop the war,” the Ukrainian president said.

In the end, Zelensky invited Trump to visit Ukraine, to which he replied that he would. “It's a beautiful country, great weather, everything is great,” he added.

Author - Olena Madiak, 28/09/2024