Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the United States next week, intending to demonstrate the feasibility of the "Victory Plan," Ukrainian Presidential Office spokesman Sergii Nykyforov announced on September 19.
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| The victory plan is fully ready, the important thing now is to be determined to implement it. President Zelensky announced on television on September 21. (Source: Office of the President of Ukraine) |
The Ukrainian leader will have a long journey, starting with a speech at the United Nations General Assembly and then a private meeting with US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, bipartisan representatives of Congress and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
In addition, Zelensky will meet with representatives of US defense and energy companies and the Ukrainian diaspora, as well as hold bilateral talks with national leaders and international organizations on the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting.
Promoting the "Zelensky peace formula"
According to firstpost , this could be his last visit before the election that could reverse Washington's policy of supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and he will have to take advantage of every political talking point.
“President Volodymyr Zelensky will present his ‘Victory Plan’ to President Biden. He hopes to discuss the details of the plan, as well as further US support for Ukraine,” Nykyforov said.
On the White House side, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced on September 19 that Mr. Biden will meet privately with Mr. Zelensky on September 26. Jean-Pierre said: “The President and Vice President will emphasize their unwavering commitment to stand with Ukraine until it wins the conflict.”
In early August, Mr. Zelensky announced his intention to present his victory plan to both presidential candidates as well as President Biden. “We don’t know who will be president, but we really want to implement this plan,” he declared.
Earlier, on September 16, President Zelensky announced that Ukraine’s “Victory Plan” was 90% complete. “The plan is bringing very real results militarily, politically, diplomatically and economically. Key people from each area are involved. The steps that are necessary for Ukraine have been clearly defined. The steps are designed to put us in the strongest possible position to bring peace – a real, just peace. For each step, there is a clear list of what is needed and what will strengthen us. There is nothing impossible in this plan. More than 90% has been carefully worked out,” he said.
In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the Ukrainian military for its attack on a Russian ammunition depot in Toropets, a town some 500 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. “This is the kind of action that weakens the enemy,” he said. “We are managing the situation on the ground within our expectations. We are also paying maximum attention to the directions in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions — the entire east, Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Kurakhove. We are deploying reinforcements, both in weapons and personnel.” The Ukrainian president has previously said that the invasion of Kursk was part of Ukraine’s “Victory Plan.”
The Ukrainian president’s office also said that Mr. Zelensky plans to meet “the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump.” However, there has been no confirmation from Mr. Trump. He only said that he “may” meet Mr. Zelensky next week.
Both Ukraine and its NATO allies are concerned that former President Trump, if elected, could ease US support for Kiev. Trump has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and refused to take sides in last week’s debate with Harris, saying only: “I want the conflict to end.”
Meanwhile, President Zelensky has pressed the Biden administration to allow it to use Western-made long-range weapons inside Russia. Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer postponed a decision on the issue last week. Starmer said they would discuss it further when they meet at the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. Zelensky said he intends to hold an international peace summit to outline his vision for ending the war in November, and Russia will be invited.
According to the Moscow Times , on September 21, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Russia will not attend the second Ukraine peace summit that may take place in November, although President Volodymyr Zelensky has hinted that this time he will invite Moscow representatives.
“The summit will have the same purpose: to promote the unworkable ‘Zelensky formula’ as the only basis for resolving the conflict, to seek support from the majority of the world and, on their behalf, to issue an ultimatum demanding Russia’s surrender,” Ms. Zakharova said.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has dragged on for more than 30 months, with Ukraine now controlling parts of Russia's Kursk region while Moscow is advancing into eastern Ukraine.
The West's mixed views on "licensing" Kiev to attack
News.az reported on September 21 that President Zelensky told the US and UK not to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by Western allies to target targets in Russia, citing concerns about the risk of "escalating" tensions. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously warned that launching long-range weapons at Russia meant NATO countries were "aggressive" towards Moscow.
“Neither the United States nor the United Kingdom will allow us to use these weapons on Russian territory, on any targets, at any distance,” Mr. Zelensky told reporters on September 21. “I think they are concerned about escalation,” he added.
However, contrary to this source, according to the British news site LBC , Ukraine may receive a quiet "nod" from the US and UK, secretly granting Kiev permission to launch Western missiles into Russian territory in the coming weeks.
Ukraine’s allies have stepped up military support for the Ukrainian army, which is struggling to contain Russian advances in the east. “(The aid) accelerated in September. We are very happy. We can feel the difference,” he said. Delays in arms deliveries due to political divisions among allies left Ukraine short of supplies earlier this year, especially given Kiev’s heavy reliance on such military assistance.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed that Germany will not provide Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles with a range of up to 500 km. Speaking on September 20 in front of about 200 people in the city of Niedergorsdorf (Brandenburg state), Mr. Scholz emphasized: "Despite many people putting pressure on me, I will not transfer cruise missiles capable of reaching Moscow." The German leader affirmed: "I can guarantee that I will stick to this position."
Kiev has long called on Berlin to deliver Taurus cruise missiles, which have been compared to the British Storm Shadow, which has already been delivered to Ukraine. However, the German and Swedish Taurus missiles have a slightly longer range. On September 19, Germany updated its list of weapons delivered to Kiev, including 22 Leopard 1A5 tanks and spare parts, three Gepard self-propelled air defense systems, drones and other weapons. Germany also reportedly plans to allocate 397 million euros in additional short-term military aid to Kiev.
German Chancellor Scholz also stressed the need to consider options for a peace settlement in the conflict. “Now is the time to look at what possibilities there are,” he said. However, he did not agree that peace talks could be an alternative to Germany’s support for Ukraine, referring to the views of the Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) parties.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/xung-dot-nga-ukraine-tuyen-bo-ke-hoach-chien-thang-da-hoan-thien-90-tong-thong-zelensky-se-toi-my-de-chung-minh-tinh-kha-thi-287240.html
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