Zelensky arrives in U.S. ahead of presenting Biden with "victory plan"
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine, last week. Photo: Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the U.S. Sunday for a vital visit during which he'll speak at the UN, as Kyiv pushes for an end to 2.5 years of war with Russia's invading forces.
The big picture: Zelensky said ahead of his visit that President Biden will be the "first" to see in full Ukraine's "victory plan," which he said he will also show to Congress, Vice President Kamala Harris and her 2024 presidential rival former President Trump.
- Zelensky has been pushing for the U.S. and other allies to grant Kyiv permission to use their long-range weapons to strike targets further inside Russia, as Putin's forces progress in eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian troops hold onto portions of Moscow's Kursk border region.
- "This fall will determine the future of this war. Together with our partners, we can strengthen our positions as needed for our victory — a shared victory for a truly just peace," Zelensky said on X Sunday.
State of play: On Sunday, Zelensky visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania, which has increased production this year of 155mm artillery shells for Ukraine.
- Zelensky said on X he had reached "agreements to expand cooperation" between Pennsylvania and the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. "It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail," he added.
- The Ukrainian leader will hold talks with officials at the UN in New York on Tuesday and speak at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday before heading to Washington, D.C.
What we're watching: Zelensky said he wouldn't disclose details of his plan to end the war until he had spoken with Biden on Thursday, per a statement from the Ukrainian president's office.
- "The plan is based on decisions that should take place from October through December, without delaying the process," Zelensky said.
- Zelensky said he intended to invite Russian officials and Ukrainian allies to a potential fresh round of peace talks in November, per AFP.
Yes, but: Russian officials have said they wouldn't attend the summit, citing leader Vladimir Putin's demands that Ukraine surrender four of its southeastern regions that Russian troops partially occupy to end the war.
More from Axios:
- What the "rocket drone" Palianytsia means for Ukraine
- "Dragon drones" are spitting fire in the Russia-Ukraine war
- Putin: West risks war with Russia if Ukraine gets long-range weapons approval
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
