Biden meets with Zelensky on margins of UNGA next week

Next week, during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), U.S. President Joe Biden is set to hold a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to reports from UK media.

This meeting is anticipated to be a crucial opportunity for Zelenskyy to persuade Biden to reconsider his stance against allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied weapons for strikes within Russian territory.

The Economist reported on Monday that Zelenskyy aims to use this summit as a final chance to address Biden’s reservations. Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder indicated last week that the U.S. had no immediate plans to lift the existing restrictions on using American weapons for attacks inside Russia.

In late August, Zelenskyy announced his intention to present a new strategy for the war to Biden in September and to inform presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, emphasizing the importance of keeping them updated on Ukraine’s plans.

The UNGA is set to begin on September 10. President Biden is scheduled to speak on September 24, with President Zelenskyy set to address the assembly on September 25.