Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the US on Sunday, the 22nd of September, to attend the UN General Assembly sessions and called on his partners to help achieve “a shared victory for a truly just peace”, reports Reuters.
“This autumn will determine the future of this war,” he said in a nightly video address.
Zelenskyy made an unannounced visit to President Joe Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, to visit an ammunition factory where he said production of vital 155-millimetre artillery shells was being ramped up to help Ukraine’s war effort.
“It’s in places like this that you really feel that the democratic world can win,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, accompanied by photos of him thanking the factory workers.
The Ukrainian leader’s concerns about the shortage of such ammunition have been further heightened by Russia’s destruction of Ukraine’s energy grid ahead of the critical winter months.
In his video address, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was doing everything possible, through arms purchases and diplomacy, “to consolidate the support of our partners and force Russia into peace”.
Zelenskyy went on to New York to meet with US business leaders to discuss Ukraine’s energy needs and to meet with world leaders. His visit coincides with US efforts to prepare 375 million US dollars in military aid for Ukraine.
The aid package, expected to be announced this week and subject to change in size and content, reportedly includes patrol vessels, additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155- and 105-millimetre artillery ammunition, spare parts and other weapons.
Zelenskyy said he is to present Ukraine’s war “victory plan” to President Bidenand on Thursday discuss it with Vice President Kamala Harris and other world leaders.
He also hopes to meet and discuss the plan with Republican candidate Donald Trump, who has criticised US aid to Ukraine, but no date has yet been set.
According to Ukrainian media, Zelenskyy will address a UN summit on Monday, attend Security Council meetings on Ukraine on Tuesday and address the General Assembly on Wednesday.
Source: BNN News
