By Reeturaj - Sep 30, 2024
President Zelensky of Ukraine visited the US to present his "victory plan" to American politicians, including an awkward encounter with former President Trump. Despite labeling talks as productive, there seems to be little change in Trump's approach towards Ukraine. Zelensky seeks support to end the war and join NATO, but faces lukewarm response from Western countries. The 'victory plan' aims to strengthen Ukraine's position on the battlefield and seek diplomatic peace with Russia, but faces skepticism and concerns about surrendering land. The ongoing nuclear threats from Putin and Ukraine's resistance to give up land highlight the complexities in finding a resolution to the conflict.
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It was described as a crucial week for Ukraine, offering President Volodymyr Zelensky the opportunity to present his ambitiously named "victory plan" to the most influential American politicians during his visit to the US. In an interview with the New Yorker magazine, Zelensky stated that he believed Trump "doesn't really know how to stop the war" and described his vice-presidential running mate JD Vance as "too radical". Mariya Zolkina, a Ukrainian political analyst and research fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE), considered Zelensky's remarks about Trump and Vance to be a "big mistake". Zelensky's visit to meet top Democrats at an ammunition factory in the swing state of Pennsylvania was labeled as election interference by a senior congressional Republican. Ms. Zolkina added that the backlash to the visit was a "big surprise" to Zelensky’s team, known for its slick PR. Zelensky’s visit was carefully timed to secure crucial support for Ukraine's war effort from President Joe Biden, who has just months left in office. However, this meant walking straight into a highly-charged US election campaign. Following reports that Trump had decided to freeze Zelensky out, the pair eventually met on Friday at Trump Tower in New York City. The encounter was awkward at times. Trump declared he had a "very good relationship" with both Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, which was painful for Ukrainian ears. Zelensky interjected to say he hoped relations were better with him than with Putin, a remark laughed off by Trump.
During that week, Trump had been busy at rallies praising Russia's historic military record and criticizing the US administration for giving "billions of dollars" to Zelensky, whom he claimed had "refused to make a deal" to end the conflict. Later, Zelensky described the talks as "very productive," but there is little indication that he had managed to change Trump's fundamental approach. However, on Saturday, he told Fox News that he had received "very direct information" from Trump that "he will be on our side." At a rally in Michigan on Friday night, the Republican candidate again expressed his intention to quickly "settle" the war. This claim has led many to believe he could cut aid to Kyiv and pressure Ukraine into giving up territory. Meanwhile, in a veiled attack on Trump, the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris said this week that those who support proposals for Ukraine to swap land for peace are advocating "surrender." Zelensky was present with her, as he conducted a busy schedule of diplomatic meetings and media interviews throughout the week, including at the United Nations.
Reports of additional financial support were being discussed before a meeting with President Biden at the White House. The talks between Biden and Zelensky were friendly, but the outcome was uncertain. During the meeting, Zelensky presented his "victory plan" to end the war to the outgoing president. Zelensky has been seeking permission from Western countries for some time, but he has not yet received the green light. It is also believed that he will ask for stronger security guarantees, including an invitation to join the NATO military alliance. Although the alliance has expressed support for Ukraine's potential membership, it has been made clear that this will not happen while the country is still at war.
The 'victory plan' pitch aims to strengthen Ukraine's position on the battlefield and push for diplomatic peace with Putin. However, the proposals have not generated much enthusiasm. Ukraine is determined to pursue its ambitions, including seeking an invitation to NATO, although the US is not fully supportive yet. There are hopes for permission to use long-range missiles, but some critics accuse Biden of hesitating to assist Harris's presidential ambitions. Despite ongoing nuclear threats from Putin, there is still optimism about obtaining permission. In Kyiv, there is strong resistance to giving up land to Russia, as many fear that a truce would only allow Putin to regroup and launch fresh attacks. However, it is believed that meaningful security guarantees, such as Nato membership or a strong security agreement with an international player, could change the conversation around a ceasefire. Zelensky has been advocating for his 'victory plan,' but Washington's response has been lukewarm, and events in the Middle East are diverting attention from Russia's invasion.