Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told US congressmen that his main priority is to get permission from the US to launch long-range missiles to strike military targets in Russia while holding numerous meetings at the White House and the Capitol to outline its plan to change the course of the war, the Wall Street Journal reported. of the seal.
Zelensky, who on Thursday appealed to US President Joe Biden to allow his country to use US weapons, tapped into the deepening partisan divide over the Russia-Ukraine war, with the US presidential election only a few days away. weeks, notes in. "Washington Post".
Biden met with Zelensky at the White House, but did not grant Kiev's request to authorize the launch of US-made missiles at targets deep inside Russian territory. Instead, he announced more military aid and new air defense assets, with the White House attempting to show strong support for Ukraine while rejecting its main request.
Meanwhile, the "New York Times" reports on a US intelligence assessment that mentions the risks of long-range strikes by Ukraine.
Intelligence agencies have concluded that granting Ukraine's request to use Western missiles against targets deep inside Russia could provoke strong retaliation while not fundamentally changing the course of the war.
U.S. intelligence agencies believe Russia is likely to retaliate more forcefully against the U.S. and its allies, possibly with lethal attacks, if they agree to allow the Ukrainians to use cruise missiles supplied by the U.S., Britain, and France. great scope to strike deep into Russia, quotes the "New York Times" American officials.
The intelligence assessment, which has not been previously reported, also downplays the effect the long-range missiles will have on the course of the conflict, as the Ukrainians currently have a limited number of these weapons and it is unclear how many may still be provided by the Western Allies.
The assessment underscores what intelligence analysts see as the potential risk and uncertain benefits of a high-stakes decision that now rests with President Biden, who met with Zelensky at the White House on Thursday.
US Vice President Kamala Harris has indirectly condemned Donald Trump's campaign policy to end Russia's war on Ukraine as "offers of capitulation”, while Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Washington to present his "plan for victory" , notes the "Guardian".
Addressing Zelensky at the White House, Harris stated that "some in my country” will pressure Ukraine to accept a peace agreement in which it gives up its sovereign territory and neutrality to make peace with Vladimir Putin.
"These proposals are the same as those of Putin, and let it be clear that these are not proposals for peace,”, she said. "These are actually offers of capitulation, which is dangerous and unacceptable,”, Harris stressed.
Although she did not mention Donald Trump or JD Vance by name, these terms for peace are very similar to those laid out by the Republican candidate for US vice president in an interview earlier this month, notes the "Guardian".
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After those remarks, Zelensky publicly denounced Vance as "too radical", sparking a conflict with Trump allies that culminated in allegations of election meddling and calls by Republicans for Ukraine to fire its ambassador to Washington.
In an apparent reversal late Thursday, Trump told reporters he would meet with Zelensky at "Trump Tower" in New York today.
At a press conference, he dismissed Harris' criticism and insisted he only wanted to stop the "horror show that is going on”.
When asked if Ukraine should give up its territories, Trump did not commit to a clear answer, but said: "We need peace. We must stop the death and destruction.“
Before announcing the meeting with Zelensky, Trump posted on social networks an alleged message from the Ukrainian president asking to see him. The message, which was not confirmed by Ukrainian officials, said that "we should seek to understand each other”. The decision to make public what was intended to be a private communication is a reminder of the tension between Trump and Zelensky, the "Guardian" points out.
Harris made his remarks after Zelensky met with Joe Biden at the White House to formally unveil Zelensky's proposal, which he says could end the war with Russia.
The White House issued a brief statement after the meeting, saying that "the two leaders discussed the diplomatic, economic and military aspects of President Zelensky's plan and directed their teams to begin intensive consultations on next steps.
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Zelensky faces an uphill battle to secure support for his plan because of the caution of senior officials in the Biden administration, who do not want to give Russia a pretext for further escalation of the conflict, and because of the upcoming presidential election in November , which may lead to the re-election of Donald Trump.
Ahead of the meeting, Biden announced more than $8 billion in military aid to Kiev, calling it a "dramatic increase in security assistance to Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war.
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The assistance includes the provision of fighter-launched medium-range "gliding bomb"-type munitions that will allow Ukrainian forces to strike Russian troops and supply lines from safer distances.
The package includes additional Patriot air defense batteries and missiles, unmanned aerial systems and measures to strengthen Ukraine's defense industrial base, Biden said. The US will also expand training for additional F-16 fighter pilots, with an additional 18 pilots to be trained next year.
However, Biden was not expected to grant a key UK-backed Ukrainian demand - to be given permission to use weapons such as ATAKMS long-range ballistic missiles to strike targets deep inside Russian territory - due to fears of escalation of the conflict with Russia.
"I don't expect anything to be announced on this matter,” White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre told reporters before the meeting.
Zelensky said in a post on social media: "We will use this aid in the most efficient and transparent way possible to achieve our main common goal: victory for Ukraine, a just and lasting peace and transatlantic security.“
Biden also announced that he will convene a high-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to coordinate aid to Ukraine among more than 50 allies.
The meeting took place amid growing tensions between Zelensky and Trump, who attacked the Ukrainian leader for "saying nasty little slanders about your beloved president, about me”.
U.S. and European officials have noted with varying degrees of alarm the possibility that a possible future Trump administration could sharply cut U.S. aid to Ukraine in order to force Zelensky to accept the terms of a ceasefire.
Asked if Democrats want to "secure“ aid to Ukraine ahead of a possible Trump presidency, a senior State Department official said, "I never talk that way," but said the main goal was to make sure Ukraine "has all the equipment it needs, to continue fighting, as well as human resources and other things“.