By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will next week meet with the US President, Joe Biden where talks are expected to border on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, the White House announced Thursday.
After the meeting on Sept 26, the Ukrainian leader will also separately hold talks with the with Vice President Kamala Harris, a statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
“The leaders will discuss the state of the war between Russia and Ukraine, including Ukraine’s strategic planning and U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. The President and Vice President will emphasize their unshakeable commitment to stand with Ukraine until it prevails in this war”, she said
Zelenskyy has claimed that his country has the capacity to win in Russia’s war against Kyiv, saying he intends to present the proposal to Biden.
In a speech at the opening of the 20th Annual Yalta European Strategy Meeting in Kyiv last Friday, Zelenskyy said wars of aggression, such as the one being waged by Russia against Ukraine, can end positively by either the occupying army being pushed out on the battlefield, or through diplomacy, in which the invaded country is freed from occupation and its independence preserved.
“In both cases, Ukraine needs a strong position,” he said. “The United States can help with this. If we, along with our key partner, equally strive for victory.”
Zelenskyy has in recent times expressed frustration over his inability to secure permission from allies, especially the United States and Britain to use their long-range weapons against targets inside Russia.
Heritage Times HT recalls that on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Although Russian forces made significant gains in the first days of combat, Ukrainian defenders rebuffed attempts to seize Kyiv and other major cities and were soon launching counterattacks at Russian troops, with the support of its allies.