Zelenskiy arrives in New York to attend U.N. General Assembly

23/9/2024 6:14

        Ukrainian President
        Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived in New York to attend sessions
        at the U.N. General Assembly, the Ukrinform state news agency
        reported on Sunday.
        
        Zelenskiy's visit to attend sessions at the U.N. General
        Assembly in New York coincides with U.S. efforts to prepare a
        $375 million military aid package for Ukraine, breaking a
        months-long trend toward smaller packages for Kyiv's military
        operations.
        
        Zelenskiy will present a "victory plan" in Ukraine's war
        against Russia to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala
        Harris in separate meetings scheduled for Thursday.
        
        Zelenskiy also hopes to meet Republican presidential
        candidate Donald Trump, who has called U.S. aid to its eastern
        European ally a waste of money and has declined to say he wants
        Ukraine to win. Trump has said he will probably meet with
        Zelenskiy this week but no date has been announced.
        
        Trump faces Harris in the Nov. 5 U.S. election.
        
        Zelenskiy has long complained of a shortage of weapons,
        including crucial 155-millimeter artillery shells made at the
        Scranton plant. Those concerns have taken on added urgency as
        Russia pummels Ukraine's energy grid ahead of the critical
        winter months.
        
        Two U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday that an aid
        package, expected to be announced this week, includes patrol
        boats, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket
        systems (HIMARS), 155- and 105-millimeter artillery ammunition,
        spare parts and other weapons.
        
        The officials said the contents and size of the package
        could change in the coming days ahead of the Biden's expected
        signature.