Harris denounces Trump's 'proposal to surrender' as she discusses Ukraine's 'victory plan' with Zelenskyy

US Vice President Kamala Harris indirectly decried former US President Donald Trump and his campaign’s problematic proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war as she met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During his visit to Washington, Zelenskyy laid out his “victory plan” to both US President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

However, during her talks with the Ukrainian leader, the Democratic Presidential nominee referred to the Trump campaign’s idea as “the proposal to surrender.” Addressing Zelenskyy in the White House, Harris said “some in my country” would pressure Ukraine to accept a peace deal in which it surrendered its sovereign territory and neutrality in order to make peace with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“These proposals are the same as those of Putin, and let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace,” she said. “Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable.” While Harris did not explicitly take the names of her GOP rival Trump and his VP pick JD Vance, the proposal that she called out was oddly similar to the one proposed by the Republican duo.

Zelenskyy’s fruitful visit to the White House

Harris’ jabs came after the Ukrainian leader held talks with US President Joe Biden at the White House for the formal presentation of his plan. Following the meeting, the White House issued a short statement stating that the “two leaders discussed the diplomatic, economic, and military aspects of President Zelenskyy’s plan and tasked their teams to engage in intensive consultations regarding next steps”.

“President Biden is determined to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win,” the statement further read. The key details of Zelenskyy’s plan are kept under wraps but officials said that the proposal required additional American aid to prevent a Ukrainian rout on the battlefield and “provide the [Ukrainian] people with the assurance that their future is part of the West”.

Interestingly, before the meeting, Biden announced an additional $8 billion in military assistance to Kyiv, calling it a “surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war”. The aid includes the provision of medium-range “glide bomb” munition fired from fighter jets that would allow Ukrainian forces to strike Russian troops and supply lines at safer distances, The Guardian reported.

Out of the $8 billion, $5.5 billion will be allocated to the Ukraine security assistance initiative fund by the end of the year, as well as an additional $2.4bn in security assistance via the Department of Defense. Shortly after the announcement, the Ukrainian leader expressed gratitude over the matter.

“We will use this assistance in the most efficient and transparent manner to achieve our major common goal: victory for Ukraine, just and lasting peace, and transatlantic security,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I am grateful to the United States for providing the items that are most critical to protecting our people. An additional Patriot air defence battery, other air defence capabilities and interceptors, drones, long-range missiles, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as funds to strengthen Ukraine’s defence industrial base,” he added.

Trump to meet Zelenskyy

After calling him all sorts of names, Trump announced he would meet Zelenskyy in New York on Friday. The surprise announcement came one day after he slammed the Ukrainian leaders claiming that he refused to strike a deal with Russia over war.

“President Zelenskyy has asked to meet with me, and I will be meeting with him tomorrow morning at around 9:45 (local time) in Trump Tower,” the Republican told reporters in New York.“And it’s a shame what’s happening in Ukraine. So many deaths, so much destruction. It’s a horrible thing,” he added, making a complete U-turn from previous stance.

The proclamation came hours after Zelenskyy met Biden and Harris at the White House. There has been a major clash of words between the two after Zelenskyy’s controversial interview with the New Yorker. During the interview, the Ukrainian leader said that he believed Trump “doesn’t really know how to stop the war” and criticised Vance for describing a vision for peace that included Ukraine ceding territories currently occupied by Russia.

Following this, Trump referred to him as a “salesman” and accused him of not accepting the peace deal with Putin. Hence it will be interesting to see how the meeting between the two leaders would pan out.

With inputs from agencies.