Harris slams Trump’s Ukraine ‘surrender’ policy as Zelensky visits White House
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US Vice-President Kamala Harris and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shaking hands after speaking to the press, on Sept 26.
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON – US Vice-President Kamala Harris on Sept 26 criticised her election rival Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, describing it as a policy of “surrender” to Russia, as she told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he could rely on her support.
Mr Zelensky also met US President Joe Biden to present his “victory plan”, with the White House announcing a fresh military aid package worth nearly US$8 billion (S$10.3 billion) for Kyiv
Mr Zelensky’s visit has been clouded by a blazing row with Republican presidential candidate Trump that underscored how November’s US election could upend the support that Ukraine receives from its biggest backer.
Ms Harris did not mention Trump by name but said there were “some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality”.
With Mr Zelensky by her side, she said: “These proposals are the same of those of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. And let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender.”
During a separate meeting in the Oval Office with Mr Zelensky, Mr Biden pledged that “Russia will not prevail” in the war it launched in February 2022.
“Ukraine will prevail, and we’ll continue to stand by you every step of the way,” Mr Biden said after thanking him for presenting the so-called victory plan.
US President Joe Biden (right) meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, on Sept 26.
PHOTO: AFP
Dressed in his trademark military-style outfit, Mr Zelensky replied, “we deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side”.
‘Win this war’
Mr Zelensky is looking to shore up support for his war effort as Mr Biden tries to lock in aid for Ukraine, ahead of the white-knuckle US election on Nov 5.
The nearly US$8 billion in military aid Mr Biden pledged included US$5.5 billion to be authorised before it expires at the end of the US fiscal year on Sept 30.
Mr Biden said in a statement that the “surge in security assistance for Ukraine” would “help Ukraine win this war”.
Mr Biden also announced that Washington would provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition and called a summit of allies in Germany in October.
But the White House played down Ukraine’s hopes that Mr Zelensky’s visit would achieve his long-held goal of getting permission to fire long-range Western-made missiles into Russian territory.
“I’m not expecting there to be any new announcements on this particular action or a decision coming out of this meeting,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
Mr Zelensky also visited the US Congress – where his government said he had also presented his victory plan – and gave a defiant address at the UN General Assembly
But Mr Zelensky’s visit has prompted fresh nuclear sabre-rattling from Moscow, which has repeatedly warned the West against giving Ukraine long-range arms.
‘Irresponsible’ nuclear threats
Mr Putin on Sept 25 announced plans to broaden Moscow’s rules on the use of its atomic weaponry in the event of a “massive” air attack.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the nuclear threat “totally irresponsible” while EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said the Russian leader was making a “gamble with his nuclear arsenal”.
Kyiv faces an increasingly difficult battlefield situation 2 ½ years into Russia’s invasion, with Russian forces continuing to push into eastern Ukraine.
The US presidential election means Washington’s support now hangs in the balance.
Trump had also been due to meet Mr Zelensky during his US visit, but their talks appear to be on ice.
Trump accused Mr Zelensky on the eve of the visit of refusing to strike a deal with Moscow and once again questioned why the US was giving billions of dollars to Kyiv.
At an election rally on Sept 25, the Republican called Mr Zelensky “probably the greatest salesman on Earth”.
Republicans were livid after Mr Zelensky visited an arms factory calling for the Ukrainian ambassador to be sacked.
Trump has echoed many of Mr Putin’s talking points about previous US policy being to blame for the Russian invasion, and has been critical of Mr Zelensky for years. AFP
