Volodymyr Zelensky Concludes Visit to United States
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to the United States, addressing the UN and meeting American political leaders (Wikimedia Commons)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently completed a multi-day trip to the East Coast of the United States on Thursday, 21 September 2023, advocating for continued aid against the Russian military operation in his country. Over the course of the trip, he spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York, addressed groups of U.S. lawmakers from both houses in Washington, D.C. and met with President Biden to discuss future plans for military support and aid packages.
The flurry of activity comes amid a host of developments that could determine the future of the war. Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces in southern Ukraine will likely fail to accomplish its key objectives, which would circulate doubt among some nations as to whether they should renew support for Ukraine’s war effort. Zelensky sought to pre-emptively assuage these doubts through his diplomatic trip.
On Wednesday, Zelensky spoke to the UN, denouncing Russia's invasion and leveling a number of accusations against their activities. He called them terrorists, accused them of genocide for kidnapping Ukrainian children, and described the death of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin as “shady.” He concluded his speech with a message of unity, saying, “The occupier must return to their own land. We must be united to make it.”
Russia tried to block Zelensky’s following speech to the Security Council. This is a trademark of Russian officials, who have often tried to use their country’s veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to prevent any meaningful UN action.
Zelensky urged the Security Council to implement a method for the General Assembly to override the veto, stating, “The current UN system still makes you less influential than the veto power possessed by a few and misused by one – Russia.”
While in New York, he also visited injured Ukrainian soldiers at Staten Island University Hospital.
Following the tumultuous events at the UN, Zelensky traveled to Washington to meet with American political leaders. He was denied a joint session of Congress, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) stating they “didn’t have time” to meet with him.
Instead, he met with a bipartisan group of House lawmakers and Senators separately. “We were happy that Senators, Congress, the White House, really the United States, just all people of America really, support us,” Zelensky said afterwards.
Zelensky urged Congress to continue support for Ukraine’s fight. Biden has asked Congress for $24 billion more towards that end. This comes as Congress navigates the budget process, including decisions about further aid. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where the budget process begins, has grown increasingly skeptical of spending money on a foreign war. An early short-term funding bill lacked the money Biden requested; the bill failed regardless.
Later, Zelensky met with Biden and secured an additional $325 million aid tranche, which will include air defense, artillery, and controversial cluster munitions. “I thank President Joe Biden, both parties and chambers of US Congress, and the entire American people for their unwavering support,” the Ukrainian President tweeted afterwards.
He wrapped up his visit by meeting with the Vice President and other administration officials. The following day, he addressed the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa and spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
This was only Zelensky’s second trip to Washington since the war began. During his first visit, Ukraine had been conducting a more successful counteroffensive, and he addressed a Congress controlled by Democrats who were supportive of continued aid. U.S. support for Ukraine has been essential to their war effort; however, Zelensky may face more difficulty in securing it as the global political landscape continues to shift.