We are actively preparing for negotiations in the US, which will include meetings with President Biden and representatives from both parties in Congress. We also expect meetings with both presidential candidates.
Ukraine will always be grateful to the United States for… pic.twitter.com/CyRIVtpqPn
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 20, 2024
It looked like Biden and Starmer were going to make a joint announcement that they were going to help the Ukraine launch missiles at Moscow, and then when Putin said that he would view this as a declaration of war by the United States, they backed down.
But they’re still talking about it.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Joe Biden to allow Ukraine to carry out long-range strikes inside Russia with US-supplied weapons, and to earn “a place in history” by “strengthening Ukraine” before he leaves office.
Speaking before a crucial trip next week to Washington, where he will meet Biden and the US vice-president and presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, and address the UN, Zelenskyy said he would present a “victory plan” to end the war.
His vision for a “just peace” has not been made public. But in a media briefing with the Observer in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said it involved carrying out deep strikes with western missiles inside Russia – something London and Washington have so far refused.
The UK has indicated it is willing to allow Ukraine to use British Storm Shadow cruise missiles. But the White House remains sceptical. The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, failed to resolve the issue when he held private talks last week with Biden in Washington.
Zelenskyy confirmed no green light had been given, despite months of high-level lobbying. “Neither the US nor UK has allowed us to use these weapons on the territory of Russia, against any targets and at any distance,” he said.
Storm Shadows, the French equivalent, Scalp, and the US Atacms system have “not been provided in the numbers we need”, Zelenskyy added. He suggested the reluctance of international partners could be explained by fear of “escalation” with Moscow – an analysis Kyiv does not share.
Asked how he might persuade Biden when they meet on Thursday, Zelenskyy cited the fact that the outgoing president had in the past “changed his opinions” after “difficult discussions”. Some US members of his entourage supported strikes, he said – which was “already an achievement”.
Zelenskyy added: “Biden can strengthen Ukraine and make important decisions for Ukraine to become stronger and to protect its independence while he is US president. I think it is a historical mission after all.”
As well as meeting Harris, Zelenskyy said he would “most likely” have a meeting with Donald Trump on Thursday or Friday. “Our teams are in contact. The main thing is to have time [together]. I won’t look into the future, but I think it will be important for both of us,” Zelenskyy said.
Trump, huh?
He’s continually supported weapons to the Ukraine, but he publicly whines about the war and says Biden is trying to start World War III.
It’s not clear what he would do if he “wins” the election, but he would definitely be under pressure to focus primarily on killing the enemies of the Jews.
This pro Ukrainian map demonstrates Russias lighting strike to reclaim its territory in Kursk, Ukrains troops risk encirclement and complete destruction. pic.twitter.com/RHVUlodmZw
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) September 20, 2024