The visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States has not yet come to an end, and it has already left a trail of misunderstandings, ambiguities and scandalous statements. What will the President of Ukraine return with, why did he fail to find a common language with the Republicans, and why is there talk of Ukraine’s interference in the US elections? 
Biden’s administration is not impressed with Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan. Such rumours were spread by The Wall Street Journal without waiting for either the publication of the relevant document or the official position of the White House. The plan does not have a clear strategy for victory and is only a veiled request for more weapons.
on 26 September , President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with his American counterpart Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
“The Head of State briefed the US President on the situation in Ukraine, particularly on the frontline. Volodymyr Zelenskyy focused on the issue of the Victory Plan. The leaders agreed to discuss it during talks in Washington on 26 September,” the Presidential Office said
Obviously, we should rely on the official reaction of the United States. After all, according to The Times, this trip is the last opportunity to convince Joe Biden to strengthen his support for Ukraine before the American president leaves office. Therefore, Volodymyr Zelenskyy will use all the effective tools of diplomacy when presenting his victory plan.
Behind the scenes of the US visit: what are the Republicans unhappy about?
In a private conversation with , a representative of the Republican Party said that Zelenskyy’s visit had caused an internal party scandal.
“The President of Ukraine has stirred up trouble by criticising J.D. Vance, not understanding the inner workings of US politics. Congressmen are shocked,” the Republican said.
What did Zelenskyy say?
In an interview with The New Yorker, the President of Ukraine called Vance’s plan a path to global conflict. The idea is that Ukraine, having frozen the war, would give up its territories and also bear the costs of ending the war.
“Such a scenario would have no basis in international norms, the UN Charter, or justice. And it would not necessarily end the war. These are just slogans,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
It is hard to disagree with the President of Ukraine. How can we make any agreements with Russia if, according to Vance’s plan, we must also give up joining NATO? Obviously, Ukraine’s security guarantees cannot be based solely on Putin’s promises not to attack.
Whether it was this constructive criticism of Vance’s plan that angered Trump is not known for certain. However, the Republican met Zelensky with an outrageous statement. He said that after every visit to the US, the Ukrainian president returns with $60 billion, and therefore is “the best salesman in history.”
Does Trump not believe in Ukraine’s victory plan?
“What kind of deal can we make? Ukraine is destroyed. People are dead. The country is in ruins,” US presidential candidate Donald Trump said in a loud statement. According to him, Ukraine should have made concessions to Russia a few months before its attack in February 2022. Moreover, Trump brought a drop of Russian narratives to the masses, such as that Ukraine is running out of soldiers, and there are small children and the elderly at the front.
Perhaps a face-to-face conversation between Zelenskyy and Trump could change the Republican’s mind.
The scandal of interference in the US election must be resolved immediately
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson demands that Zelenskyy immediately dismiss Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova. The Republican accuses her of interfering in the US election.
This refers to Zelenskyy’s visit to a shell factory in Pennsylvania. According to Johnson, no Republicans were intentionally invited there, and the tour itself was clearly a “campaign event designed to help Democrats.”
Military expert, analyst Ivan Stupak in an exclusive commentary
“It’s not just the position of one person, it comes from the Republican Party that its representatives were not invited to Pennsylvania, to the missile plant, that Zelenskyy is allegedly playing along with the Democrats in this way. It’s an unpleasant story, and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry needs to stabilise it,” Ivan Stupak said.
Zelenskyy’s visit to the US could have a positive outcome
It is no secret that Ukraine has not yet been granted permission to use US weapons on Russian territory. On the one hand, this is bad, but on the other hand, we are not being denied, says Ivan Stupak.
“I heard Mr Biden say that Ukraine has not yet provided convincing arguments for obtaining permission. That’s why we have a certain backlash in time and in opportunities. Probably, something will be agreed upon, perhaps this permit will be limited, but it will be,” said Ivan Stupak.
Despite the rumours of dissatisfaction with Zelenskyy’s peace plan, there is hope that behind the scenes there are processes that we are not told about, but which will be of significant importance for Ukraine in the future, the analyst says.
What could this breakthrough be? It is the US budget for 2025. According to Ivan Stupak, with the start of its formation in October, we can hope that the amount of money will be no less than last year. And most importantly, on time.
“Remember, this aid was just voted for in April. And Ukraine, unfortunately, has lost Avdiivka and almost fifty other small settlements since then,” said Ivan Stupak.
Moreover, as of 26 September, we already know about the positive steps taken by the United States:
- The US is providing Ukraine with $7.9 billion in defence aid. Zelenskyy thanked the US for providing the most important means to protect our people and, in particular, an additional Patriot air defence battery
- Biden confirmed the transfer of JSOW bombs for F-16s with a range of up to 110 km to Ukraine, “to enhance Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities”.
- Biden announced a new meeting in the Ramstein format. This will be the 25th meeting of the allies.
Author: Anastasia Fedor