By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-25 21:55:57 | Updated at 2024-09-30 23:38:37
5 days ago
President Joe Biden led a group of more 30 countries in expressing their support for Ukraine on Wednesday, as President Volodymyr Zelensky tries to rally the world to his peace plan and keep his country in the spotlight.
The leaders surrounded Biden and Zelensky on stage for a group photo at the start of the event, in a visual show of support, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
But there were a few hiccups: Biden welcomed the leaders to Washington (they're in New York) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gave her remarks over zoom but forgot to unmute herself at the top.
Biden said the leaders had gathered 'to make it clear that we with stand with Ukraine now and in the future. That starts on the battlefield.'
He said he would announce more military commitments on Thursday when Zelensky visits the White House. He plans to give more than $8 billion worth of military assistance for Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with US President Joe Biden
But Biden also argued support for Ukraine didn't stop with weapons. The new plan includes helping Kyiv regain financial stability, repair its infrastructure, boost its energy sector, and strengthen anti-corruption efforts.
'Ukraine's future victory is about more than what happens on the battlefield,' Biden noted.
'Today we show Ukrainians you are not alone in the fight. You are not alone in the reconstruction that comes after,' he said.
Zelensky compared the support to the Marshall Plan, which helped Europe rebuild after World War II, calling the plan 'one that will promote a peaceful Ukraine and all of Europe.'
'Thank you all my friends,' he said.
Earlier in the day, Zelensky implored the United Nations to remember his war-ravaged country in a speech before the general assembly on Wednesday.
He is in New York to persuade leaders to his 'victory plan,' which includes enhancing Western security guarantees for Ukraine, increasing military aid and securing further financial support.
He hasn't released the full details and wasn't expected to ahead of his meeting with President Joe Biden.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has reportedly been briefed on the plan and said it 'can work' but it's unclear how.
Biden, on Wednesday, will hold an event to rally world leaders to what he is calling the Ukrainian Recovery and Reconstruction.
Ahead of that event, Zelensky, in his address to the General Assembly, tried to make the issue personal to the member states, pointing out Russian troops still occupied one of Ukraine's nuclear plants. He warned a nuclear catastrophe would 'not respect state borders.'
'Recently, I received yet another alarming report from our intelligence. Now, Putin does seem to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid,' Zelensky said from the high rostrum of the main United Nations hall. 'Any missile or drone strike or any critical incident in the energy system could lead to a nuclear disaster. A day like that must never come.'
His remarks came as Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country should be able to use nuclear weapons if it was attacked by a state that was supported by a nuclear power.
'It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any nonnuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation,' Putin said in a meeting at the Kremlin.
US President Joe Biden (2nd (R) poses alongside President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission (2nd L), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) during an event supporting Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at an event in support of Ukraine
The Ukrainian Army continues to lose ground to Russian troops in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces now occupy more than 18% of the territory there.
Zelensky has been pushing for permission to fire more Western-made weapons into the heart of Russia. Western leaders fear Putin will see that as an attack from the West and expand his war.
He also has struggled to hold world attention as the war in the Middle East spreads. Israel has increased its attacks into Lebanon as it targets members of Hezbollah.Zelensky next heads to Washington where he will hold separate meetings at the White House on Thursday with Biden and Kamala Harris.
