On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United States for a pivotal visit aimed at presenting Kyiv’s strategy to conclude the ongoing conflict with Russia, which has persisted for over two years.
Zelenskyy’s agenda includes discussions with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump, as well as participation in sessions at the United Nations General Assembly.
The visit follows a summer marked by significant military activity, with Russia making substantial advances in eastern Ukraine while Kyiv maintains control over parts of Russia’s Kursk region.
Kyiv has been advocating for the use of long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory, though Western support for this request has yet to materialize.
In a recent post on X, Zelenskyy called for collaborative efforts to achieve “a shared victory for a truly just peace,” emphasizing the critical nature of this autumn for the conflict’s future. Ukrainian media confirmed his arrival in New York, with a planned visit to Washington later in the week.
Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv injure civilians amid ongoing war.Zelenskyy began his trip with a visit to a Pennsylvania ammunition factory, where he expressed gratitude and reiterated Ukraine’s need for more 155mm artillery shells, crucial for its defense.
Representative Matt Cartwright, who met Zelenskyy at the Scranton facility, reported the President’s clear message: “Thank you. And we need more.”
The Scranton plant has significantly ramped up production, contributing to the over 3 million shells delivered to Ukraine from the US.
In related developments, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy indicated ongoing delicate negotiations with the White House regarding the potential use of Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine.
Lammy’s remarks follow a recent visit to the US by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and himself, where no resolution was reached on this matter. At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Lammy emphasized the need for “nerve and guts” in supporting Ukraine.
Concerns have also arisen over misinformation being spread by fake news websites registered in the UK, which have been accused of disseminating disinformation about Western companies operating in Ukraine.
The suspected Russian propaganda has led to UK parliamentarians’ calls for legal changes to ensure transparency in news website ownership.
In the conflict zones, Russian airstrikes on Zaporizhzhia on Sunday evening resulted in injuries to at least 13 civilians, including a 15-year-old boy.
Ukrainian officials reported that KAB-guided aerial bombs were used in the attacks. Additionally, new strikes in Kharkiv left at least 21 people wounded after high-rise apartment buildings were targeted.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone strike in Russia-controlled Luhansk resulted in the death of a firefighter and injuries to two others.