United State Vice President, Kamala Harris is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, DC next week.
The meeting comes amid concerns about the impact of the American election results on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and US policy toward Ukraine as it seeks further assistance.
When asked Wednesday whether Harris would meet with Zelensky next week, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said she might if the occasion arose.
“I know she has met with President Zelensky face-to-face on a couple of occasions, and I know she’s spoken to him on the phone. I have little doubt that if the opportunity presents itself, and both of them can have another conversation, they will, but you’ll have to talk to her staff,” Kirby told reporters.
Harris, along with President Joe Biden, will also meet with the president of the United Arab Emirates at the White House on Monday to discuss ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the crisis in Sudan and a “number of bilateral and regional matters,” Kirby said.
Former President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he will “probably” meet with Zelensky when he visits the United States next week. Trump spoke with Zelensky over the phone in July, but a meeting would be the two leaders’ first in-person engagement since Trump departed the White House.
While Harris’ campaign language mirrors the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine, Trump has failed to state if he supports Ukraine’s win over Russia and has voiced respect for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Harris represented the United States to Ukraine’s global peace summit in Switzerland in June, which focused on Zelensky’s 10-point peace formula.
Written by Jennifer Amarachi
