Republicans furious over Zelensky's visit to arms factory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on September 26 to discuss a “victory plan” that he hopes will pressure Russia to agree to end the conflict diplomatically.

Details of the plan have not been disclosed, but Mr Zelensky is said to have asked US leaders to continue military and financial support, as well as security guarantees for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with US President Joe Biden at the White House on September 26. Photo: Reuters

The meeting comes amid anger from former President Donald Trump and Republicans over Mr Zelensky's visit to a weapons factory in Mr Biden's hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, on September 22.

The visit was seen by leading Republicans as a campaign event for Democrats.

In a public letter, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the visit was “designed to benefit Democrats” and that it amounted to “election interference.” He also called on Ukraine to fire its ambassador to Washington, who helped arrange Mr. Zelensky’s visit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits an arms factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA on September 22. Photo: Reuters

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee also announced it would investigate whether Mr Zelensky's visit to Scranton was an attempt to use a foreign leader to benefit Ms Harris' presidential campaign.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a pro-Ukraine Republican, criticized Mr Zelensky’s visit to the weapons plant. Mr Graham told reporters at the Capitol that “what happened in Pennsylvania was a mistake”.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on September 26 that there was nothing unusual about Mr. Zelensky’s visit to the weapons factory and urged Republicans to drop their demands for an investigation into the political nature of the visit. The visit was proposed by Mr. Zelensky’s administration.

“The Ukrainian side requested to visit the factory where American workers work, where they produce weapons that the Ukrainian army uses every day on the front line. The request comes from the Ukrainian side, not from us (the Democratic Party),” said Ms. Jean-Pierre.

Mr. Zelensky is scheduled to meet former President Trump on September 27 (US time) despite previous reports that the meeting had been canceled.

During a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on September 22, former US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian Mr. Zelensky "the greatest salesman"

“I think Zelensky is the greatest salesman in history. Every time he comes to the United States, he leaves with $60 billion.”

“Mr. Zelensky would love to see Kamala Harris win the 2024 presidential election, but I’m going to do it differently – I’m going to make peace,” Mr. Trump told supporters in Pennsylvania.

The comments came after the Ukrainian leader cast doubt on Mr Trump's claim that he could quickly end the Russia-Ukraine conflict and would ask the Russian and Ukrainian presidents to "make a deal" to end hostilities.

Vov.vn

Source: https://vov.vn/the-gioi/dang-cong-hoa-noi-gian-vi-chuyen-tham-cua-ong-zelensky-toi-nha-may-vu-khi-post1124410.vov