In an obvious U-turn late on Thursday, Donald Trump advised reporters that he would meet Zelenskyy at Trump Tower in New York on Friday morning. The transfer comes after Kamala Harris described the Trump marketing campaign’s coverage on ending Russia’s warfare as “proposals of give up”. “These proposals are the identical as these of Putin, and allow us to be clear, they don’t seem to be proposals for peace,” she mentioned. “As an alternative, they’re proposals for give up, which is harmful and unacceptable.” Trump rejected Harris’ criticisms and insisted that he solely needs to cease the “horror present that’s gone on”. When requested if Ukraine ought to surrender territory, Trump was non-committal, saying: “Let’s get some peace … We’d like peace. We have to cease the loss of life and destruction.” His operating mate, JD Vance, had earlier urged Russia may retain the Ukrainian land it has occupied and set up a demilitarised zone with a closely fortified frontline to stop one other Russian invasion.
Earlier than saying the assembly with Zelenskyy, Trump posted on social media a purported message from the Ukrainian president asking to see him. The message, which was not confirmed by Ukrainian officers, mentioned “we now have to attempt to grasp one another.” The choice to publicly disclose what gave the impression to be non-public communications was a reminder of the rigidity that has been brewing between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy met Joe Biden on the White Home for the formal presentation of the Ukraine president’s high-stakes proposal, which he has mentioned can finish the warfare with Russia with extra American support. The White Home issued a brief assertion after the assembly, saying that the “two leaders mentioned the diplomatic, financial, and army facets of President Zelenskyy’s plan and tasked their groups to interact in intensive consultations concerning subsequent steps”. Zelenskyy has saved the main points of the plan secret, however US officers have mentioned it consists of extra American support to stop a Ukrainian rout on the battlefield and “present the [Ukrainian] folks with the peace of mind that their future is a part of the west”.
Biden introduced greater than $8bn in army help to Kyiv, calling it a “surge in safety help for Ukraine and a collection of extra actions to assist Ukraine win this warfare”. The help consists of the availability of a medium-range “glide bomb” munition fired from fighter jets that might enable Ukrainian forces to strike Russian troops and provide strains at safer distances. The bundle consists of extra Patriot air protection battery and missiles, unmanned aerial programs, and measures to strengthen Ukraine’s protection industrial base, Biden mentioned. The US may even develop coaching for extra F-16 fighter pilots, with an additional 18 pilots to be educated subsequent yr. However Biden was not anticipated to grant a key Ukrainian request that has been supported by the UK – permission to make use of arms equivalent to long-range Atacms ballistic missiles to strike targets deeper inside Russia – attributable to fears of escalating the battle with Russia.
Russian forces repeatedly shelled a settlement west of the Ukrainian-held metropolis of Kherson on Thursday, killing one individual and wounding one other, the area’s governor mentioned. Vyacheslav Prokudin, governor of Kherson area, nonetheless partly held by Russian forces, mentioned on Telegram that the lady died when Russian forces hit the village of Tomyna Balka six occasions.
Outdoors Ukraine’s second largest metropolis of Kharkiv, a strike by Russian a number of rocket launchers triggered a fireplace engulfing a minimum of six properties within the city of Slatyne, native official Vyacheslav Zadorenko mentioned.
Zadorenko mentioned emergency companies have been tackling the blaze and making an attempt to determine whether or not any residents have been trapped below rubble. Kharkiv, positioned 30 km (18 miles) from the border, has been a frequent goal of Russian assaults.
Reuters couldn’t confirm the stories independently.
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