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The stakes are high for the Ukrainian leader, who is trying to fend off Russia’s invasion while also navigating tricky U.S. politics that could determine future of American aid.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made an urgent appeal for more American aid and weapons on Thursday in what could be one of his final chances to persuade President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to add firepower to his fight against Russia.
With growing concerns about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine, Mr. Zelensky had separate meetings at the White House with Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris, a reflection of Ms. Harris’s role at the top of the Democratic ticket.
In her remarks, Ms. Harris sought to strike a contrast with her opponent, former President Donald J. Trump, who has criticized U.S. aid for Kyiv and said this week that Mr. Zelensky should have cut a deal and made concessions to Russia.
“There are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory,” Ms. Harris said, “who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations.”
Those proposals, she said, are “the same” as those of Russia’s president.
Her comments came after Mr. Biden authorized the release of $8 billion in military aid, much of which was about to expire, in an effort to assure Mr. Zelensky that he has the administration’s support for the months to come — even after the election in November.
Mr. Zelensky has argued, including in an address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, that the Biden administration should equip his nation with additional arms and authorize his military to strike deeper into Russia.
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