Staff Reports
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making a pit stop at the White House on September 26, just in time to drop off his latest “victory plan” at the feet of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. As if the ongoing saga of Russian incursions weren’t gripping enough, Biden will be forced to juggle a meeting with Zelenskyy amid the chaos of the U.N. General Assembly. It seems like the best kind of “victory” these days is merely getting through a presidential meeting unscathed.
Zelenskyy’s latest ploy involves more than just catchy buzzwords. He’s not just waving his arms and calling it a plan; he has allegedly got it all laid out after two and a half years of conflict. He expressed that every nook and cranny regarding the strategy has been polished and perfected, with an emphasis on a “determination” to implement the campaign. This determination feels an awful lot like pushing for more aid instead of, heaven forbid, considering a peace deal.
Zelenskyy set to meet Biden, Harris at White House to outline victory planhttps://t.co/8QZk1bsf9z pic.twitter.com/dyEj3srx3A
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) September 20, 2024
While Biden has been lining the pockets of Ukraine with billions, some brave souls in Congress are raising eyebrows about this open-ended financial commitment. The concern? Lawmakers are worried that Biden is not just dragging his feet on delivering important military supplies but might as well be handing Ukraine a no-strings-attached check. Who knew that backing a war effort could come with such flimsy accountability?
Zelenskyy’s “victory plan” will ostensibly aim to quell anxiety among his Western allies about the possibility of a never-ending stalemate. The White House press secretary, known for her optimistic spin, announced that the discussions will revolve around Ukraine’s strategic planning and how Uncle Sam plans to back Kyiv against the looming bear named Russia. It is safe to imagine that the dedication to support Ukraine is about as strong as Biden’s commitment to fixing his own approval ratings.
As for peace talks, Biden believes they should move forward at Ukraine’s pace, which may sound all well and good—unless you happen to prefer a swiftly resolved conflict. The GOP, on the other hand, has taken a more pragmatic approach, suggesting that the time might be ripe for Ukraine to make some territorial compromises with Russia, effectively spitting in the face of their military gains. The Kremlin, for its part, is throwing out the possibility of discussions as long as Ukrainian troops remain in what they consider their territory.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is suggesting he might meet with Zelenskyy, too, likely rolling up in his signature unapologetic style. Trump insists that his presidency wouldn’t have seen such turmoil and that he was decidedly tougher on Russia. One can picture him challenging Zelenskyy to take charge of the situation—because, after all, it’s pretty hard to imagine Europe falling apart during Trump’s tenure. Perhaps Zelenskyy should have scheduled a meeting with Trump first; who knows what “victory plan” would have emerged then?
