Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Joe Biden at the White House on late 26 September, presenting Ukraine’s Victory Plan and discussing strategies to counter Russian aggression, according to statements from both the White House and the President’s Office of Ukraine.
Biden confirmed a new $7.9 billion defense aid for Ukraine that he announced earlier on the same day, including a $2.4 billion package in security assistance.
“I’m proud to announce a new $2.4 billion package of security assistance,” Biden said, according to CSPAN footage of the meeting. He added, “I’ve also directed the Pentagon to allocate all the remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated for Ukraine by the end of my term, which is January 20.”
Biden said he saw Zelenskyy yesterday, and the latter “shared a preview of your plan to win this war.” The White House readout of the meeting stated the two leaders discussed the plan’s diplomatic, economic, and military aspects. They tasked their teams with engaging in intensive consultations on next steps.
US “unimpressed” with Zelenskyy’s “Victory Plan,” WSJ sources say
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for US support:
“We deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side from the very first moments of this terrible Russian invasion. Your determination is incredibly important for us to prevail,” he said, according to a statement from the President’s Office of Ukraine.
The meeting also focused on Ukraine’s long-term success. Biden emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine’s path to EU and NATO membership, as well as continuing reforms to counter corruption and strengthen democracy.
“We have to ensure Ukraine has sufficient capabilities to defend against future Russian aggression,” Biden stated.
Looking ahead, Biden announced plans to host a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany on 12 October 2024. The White House readout indicated that during this meeting, the two leaders will review progress on their consultations and coordinate with international partners on additional assistance for Ukraine.
Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s success, declaring,
“Let me be clear. Russia will not prevail in war. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and we’ll continue to stand by you every step of the way.”
The meeting also touched on recent initiatives. Biden mentioned the launch of the Ukraine Compact earlier in the summer, involving more than 20 nations committed to Ukraine’s long-term security. Additionally, he noted a joint declaration of support for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, launched with over 30 nations and the EU, which may potentially use Russian assets in the process.
Related:
- Biden announces $ 7.9 billion defense aid for Ukraine, new Russia sanctions
- Trump, Vance, Johnson claim Zelenskyy favors Democrats
- US “unimpressed” with Zelenskyy’s “Victory Plan,” WSJ sources say
- Ukraine’s NATO invitation part of Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan, his office confirms
- Zelenskyy: We are closer to end of war than we think, but Ukraine should be strengthened
- The New Yorker: Zelenskyy warns of “very long war” if Biden doesn’t support his victory plan
