Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN in New York. The negotiations included Senators Chris Coons, Mark Kelly, Richard Blumenthal, as well as House Representatives Joe Wilson, Gregory Meeks, and Young Kim.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Ukraine’s Needs and U.S. Support
During the meeting, Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to the American congress members for their bipartisan support of Ukraine, emphasizing the constructive nature of the dialogue. One of the key issues was the current situation at the front and the urgent need for modern air defense systems. The President stressed that strengthening air defense remains a priority for the Ukrainian military.
“Joint U.S.-Ukrainian production could put us on the front lines before our adversaries develop AI-based drones capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction.”
Political Initiatives and Sanction Pressure
The initiative from Kyiv to present a resolution this year at the UN condemning the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia was also discussed. Senator Richard Blumenthal reported on a bill he introduced with Lindsey Graham that would designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism if it does not return the illegally taken Ukrainian children.
Senator Blumenthal also noted that Ukraine could become a significant partner in drone production in the U.S. due to the experience gained during the war against the Russian Federation. Issues of joint production and technology development were discussed as promising areas of cooperation.
The meeting participants emphasized the need to intensify sanction pressure on Russia, including the use of frozen Russian assets. Special attention was given to developing cooperation in the extraction and export of minerals, which is crucial for energy security.
Congresswoman Young Kim reported that the House Foreign Affairs Committee recently decided to provide additional support for Ukraine, particularly regarding expanding cooperation in mineral security. Democratic representative Gregory Meeks in the same committee confirmed the intention to advocate for further military and financial support for Kyiv, as well as investments in the country’s reconstruction.
Senator Mark Kelly highlighted the productivity of the discussions on issues important for enhancing support for Ukraine on the battlefield and developing production capacity. According to him, only joint efforts with allies and increased pressure on Russia will help Ukraine win the war.
During his speech at the UN General Assembly, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Russia’s full-scale aggression has led to “the most destructive arms race in human history,” with AI-based drones posing the greatest threat.