Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Joe Biden at the White House on September 26 to discuss strategies to counter Russian aggression and present Ukraine’s Victory Plan. According to statements from both the White House and the President’s Office of Ukraine, the two leaders discussed the plan’s diplomatic, economic, and military aspects and tasked their teams with engaging in intensive consultations on next steps.
However, ahead of the meeting, unnamed US officials were reportedly “unimpressed” with Zelenskyy’s plan, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The plan, which has not been made public yet, is said to offer little new strategy beyond repackaged weapons requests.
During the meeting, Biden confirmed a new $7.9 billion defense aid package for Ukraine, including a $2.4 billion package in security assistance. He also announced plans to host a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany on October 12, 2024, to review progress on their consultations and coordinate with international partners on additional assistance for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for US support, stating, “We deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side from the very first moments of this terrible Russian invasion. Your determination is incredibly important for us to prevail.” The meeting also focused on Ukraine’s long-term success, with Biden emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukraine’s path to EU and NATO membership, as well as continuing reforms to counter corruption and strengthen democracy.
Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s success, declaring, “Let me be clear. Russia will not prevail in war. Ukraine will prevail, and we’ll continue to stand by you every step of the way.” The meeting also touched on recent initiatives, including the launch of the Ukraine Compact and a joint declaration of support for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
In conclusion, the meeting between Zelenskyy and Biden highlighted the strong partnership between the US and Ukraine and their shared commitment to countering Russian aggression and supporting Ukraine’s long-term success.
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