Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky started a key visit to the United States on Sunday by touring a Pennsylvania ammunition plant. President Joe Biden and other allies will likely hear his plan for defeating Russia during his visit.
Zelensky will present his “victory plan” to Biden for the first time during the visit, which will include Kyiv’s long-standing request to employ long-range missiles against targets within Russia. He will then share the plan with both presidential candidates, US lawmakers, and international partners.
Zelensky posted on X from his plane before landing in the United States, “This fall will determine the future of this war,”
Zelensky started his visit at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania, where he expressed gratitude to the workers for their contributions to Ukraine’s munitions supply and announced that the facility would increase the production of 155mm artillery shells.
Zelensky noted on Friday that, despite indications of a change in US policy, his efforts to have Ukraine’s allies loosen weapons restrictions have thus far been unsuccessful.
He has attributed the allies’ hesitancy to authorize such use to escalation fears, but he expressed confidence that his arguments would be heard during his visit.
Zelensky will visit New York on Wednesday to address the UN General Assembly and meet with heads of state from the Global South, the G7, Europe, and international organizations.
Zelensky also intends to engage in a meeting with former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate.
