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Zelensky did not ask for money during his last trip to the US
The U.S. and EU countries have given Ukraine more than $200 billion since the conflict began, according to senators interviewed by POLITICO. Zelensky did not ask for money during his last visit to the U.S. The Kremlin has called Ukraine a “bottomless pit.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who visited the United States in September, did not request additional financial support and assured Washington that “we have everything we need,” US senators told POLITICO.
According to the publication, US support for Ukraine remains a "secondary issue" for now and the situation is unlikely to change radically in the coming year. "This (funding for Ukraine) is a multifaceted issue. And if the administration doesn't ask for anything, it's unlikely that Congress will do anything on its own," House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-S.C.) told POLITICO.
Senator Tim Kaine (D-N.Y.) noted that continued funding for Ukraine would largely depend on the outcome of the November 5 presidential election. "Donald Trump, if elected, will want to pull the United States out of relations with Ukraine and other NATO allies. He will want to do so 100 percent," the politician said.
However, senators interviewed by Politico confirmed that while Zelensky did not request additional funding during his last visit, the current funding, which is still being distributed by the administration of US President Joe Biden, will run out early next year. “He says he has everything he needs now,” said Senator Chris Murphy, who met with the Ukrainian president during his visit to the US.
Instead, the Ukrainian leader said the United States should provide weapons systems more quickly and allow more weapons systems to come from Russia, the senator added.
The day before, on October 16, Zelensky announced the "victory plan" that he had been talking about since the end of the summer. It contains five public materials, some of which contain secret annexes that Kyiv has handed over to its partners and will not make public. One of the key points is an agreement on the joint protection of the country's vital resources, joint investments and exploitation of Ukraine's economic potential. In particular, this concerns metals such as uranium, titanium, lithium, etc. According to Zelensky, this document will organically complement the sanctions imposed against Russia.
According to the Associated Press, Zelensky gave Western partners three months to accept the terms of the strategy. So far, no one has given any indication that they will support the plan, and some have already expressed concern about the short deadline for adopting key provisions, the agency reports.
In Russia, the US called this "victory plan" a "fake plan" to continue the conflict. "There have been talks about some temporary peace plan for several weeks now... Perhaps this is the same American plan to fight us to the last Ukraine, which Zelensky has now disguised and called "peace." This was reported by the president's press secretary Dmitry Peskov. Earlier, he also called Ukraine a "bottomless barrel" and noted that it is becoming increasingly difficult for Western countries to provide financial support to Kyiv.