Zelensky meets Biden after US unveils Ukraine military aid surge

‘Ukraine will prevail, and we’ll continue to stand by you every step of the way,’ Biden said, after thanking Zelensky for ‘victory plan’

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US President Joe Biden, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington on Thursday. Photo: Ukrainian Presidency / dpa

Published: 7:28pm, 26 Sep 2024Updated: 7:14am, 27 Sep 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday to present his wartime “victory plan”, after the US president announced an US$8 billion surge in military aid for Kyiv’s fight against Russia.

But Zelensky’s visit was clouded by a blazing row with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that underscored how November’s US election could upend the support that Kyiv receives from its biggest backer.

“Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail, and we’ll continue to stand by you every step of the way,” Biden said as he hosted Zelensky in the Oval Office, after thanking him for presenting the so-called victory plan.

A rescuer removes debris at a site of a residential area heavily damaged by a Russian air strike in Zaporizhzhia. Photo: Reuters

Dressed in his trademark military-style outfit, Zelensky replied that “we deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side”.

Zelensky is looking to shore up support for his war effort at the same time as Biden tries to lock in aid for Ukraine, ahead of the white-knuckle vote pitting Biden’s Vice-President Kamala Harris against firebrand Trump.

The Democrat pledged nearly US$8 billion in military aid in his announcement on Thursday, including US$5.5 billion to be authorised before it expires at the end of the US financial year on Monday.

Biden said in a statement that the “surge in security assistance for Ukraine” would “help Ukraine win this war”.