Visiting the US And Attending the UN General Assembly Session, President Zelensky Seeks Fair Peace For Ukraine
JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United States on Sunday for sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, urging his partners to help achieve "a shared victory for a truly just peace."
"This fall will decide the future of this war," he said in a tweet on X alongside an evening video address delivered from a plane, Reuters reported on September 23.
President Zelensky made an unannounced stop in President Joe Biden's hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to visit an ammunition plant that he said was ramping up production of 155-millimeter artillery shells crucial to Ukraine's war effort.
"It's in places like this that you can truly feel that the democratic world can win," he tweeted on X, alongside photos of himself thanking factory workers.
The Ukrainian leader's concerns about the ammunition shortage have grown, after Russia hit Ukraine's energy grid ahead of the critical winter months.
In his video address, Zelensky said Ukraine is doing everything it can, by acquiring weapons and through diplomacy, “to consolidate the support of our partners and force Russia to make peace.”
On his trip to New York, Zelensky is scheduled to meet with U.S. corporate executives to discuss his country’s energy needs, as well as with leaders of other countries and international organizations.
The Kyiv leader’s visit coincides with the U.S. pushing for a $375 million military aid package for Ukraine, breaking a months-long trend of smaller packages for Kyiv’s military operations.
Zelensky said he would first present a “victory plan” for Ukraine’s war with Russia to Biden. He is also expected to discuss the plan with Vice President Kamala Harris in a separate meeting on Thursday, as well as with other world leaders.
Zelenskiy also hopes to meet with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has called U.S. aid to the Eastern European ally a waste of money and has refused to say he wants Ukraine to win. Trump said he would probably meet with President Zelensky this week, but no date has been announced.
Trump himself will face Harris in the US election on November 5.
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Last week, two US officials said Friday that the aid package, expected to be announced this week, includes patrol boats, additional ammunition for the high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS), 155 and 105 millimeter artillery ammunition, spare parts and other weapons.
The officials said the contents and size of the package could change in the coming days ahead of President Biden's signing.
Separately, Ukrinform said President Zelensky would speak at a UN summit on Monday, participate in a Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Tuesday, before speaking during the General Assembly on Wednesday.