Harris criticizes Trump’s Ukraine policy, calls it a “surrender” to Russia

US Vice President Kamala Harris denounced Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine, labeling it as a “surrender” policy, as the former president indicated he would meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite a sharp divide over the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Speaking alongside Zelenskyy at the White House on Thursday, Harris refrained from mentioning Trump by name but alluded to political figures in the U.S. advocating for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. “These proposals are the same as those of [President Vladimir] Putin. And let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender,” Harris said.

Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington coincided with President Joe Biden announcing a new military aid package worth nearly $8 billion, aimed at bolstering Kyiv’s defenses in its war with Russia, which has persisted since February 2022. Biden, in a separate meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, assured, “Russia will not prevail… Ukraine will prevail, and we’ll continue to stand by you every step of the way.”

Zelenskyy, wearing his signature military-style outfit, expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from the U.S. “We deeply appreciate that Ukraine and America have stood side by side,” he said.

However, Zelenskyy faces a challenging political landscape as the U.S. approaches its presidential election on November 5. The Ukrainian leader’s reliance on American support is under scrutiny, with some candidates, like Trump, voicing opposition to continued assistance.

Trump criticizes Zelenskyy, proposes a deal

Trump, who has long criticized the substantial U.S. aid sent to Ukraine, accused Zelenskyy of refusing to negotiate with Moscow, a stance that Kyiv fears would lead to conceding occupied territories. Yet, Trump announced on Thursday that he would meet with Zelenskyy at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, despite the public row.

“President Zelenskyy has asked to meet with me, and I will be meeting with him tomorrow morning,” Trump said, reiterating his belief that he could swiftly broker a peace deal. “I believe I will be able to make a deal between President Putin and President Zelenskyy and quite quickly.”

Trump’s claims have raised concerns in Ukraine, where officials fear such a deal would result in territorial losses. He also responded to Zelenskyy’s comments in The New Yorker, where Ukraine’s president questioned Trump’s ability to end the conflict, adding fuel to the already tense atmosphere.

GOP backlash and Russian saber-rattling

Zelenskyy’s visit has also provoked criticism from Republicans after the Ukrainian president visited an arms factory in Pennsylvania, Biden’s home state. Some GOP lawmakers accused Ukraine’s ambassador of organizing a politically charged event, demanding her dismissal.

Meanwhile, Trump has echoed Russian President Putin’s rhetoric, telling supporters that Russia “beat Hitler, they beat Napoleon, that’s what they do,” further aligning himself with the Kremlin’s historical narrative.

The Trump administration’s relationship with Ukraine came under intense scrutiny during his presidency when Trump was accused of pressuring Zelenskyy to dig up damaging information on Biden ahead of the 2020 election, a scandal that led to Trump’s first impeachment.

Biden’s ongoing support for Ukraine

As Trump intensifies his rhetoric, Biden is working to solidify support for Ukraine ahead of the U.S. election. The nearly $8 billion aid package announced on Thursday includes $5.5 billion that must be authorized before the U.S. fiscal year ends on Monday. Biden also pledged to convene a summit with allies in Germany in October, emphasizing the continued international backing of Ukraine’s efforts.

However, the Biden administration appeared cautious about escalating the conflict further, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating that no new decisions had been made regarding Ukraine’s requests to fire long-range missiles into Russian territory.

Zelenskyy’s U.S. visit came amid renewed nuclear threats from Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to broaden the country’s nuclear strategy in response to a potential “massive” airstrike, a stark reminder of the volatile situation as the conflict drags on.

Zelenskyy’s appeal to the U.S. Congress and defiant speech at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week underscored his determination to keep Ukraine at the forefront of international attention, as questions loom about the future of American support.