Russian President Vladimir Putin made a teasing comment earlier this month saying that Russia was supporting Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. presidential election due to her “infectious” laugh. However, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov clarified that Putin was joking and has a good sense of humor which is often reflected in his statements and interviews.
Lavrov mentioned that the change in U.S. president would not significantly affect Russia’s foreign policy as it is believed to be controlled by the “deep state” without providing evidence for this assertion. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to the United States to present Kyiv’s “victory plan” in the war against Russia. He is expected to meet with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and potentially former President Donald Trump on September 26-27.
Zelenskyy’s plan aims to force Russia to end the war diplomatically and relies on the support of key allies from October to December this year. Despite ongoing advancements by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, Zelenskyy is seeking to strengthen his country with more military, economic, and diplomatic support from the U.S. He is likely to push for the lifting of restrictions on long-range missile strikes inside Russia in an effort to combat Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy has emphasized the importance of achieving a ‘just peace’ in the region and has ruled out the possibility of freezing the war as it would only postpone Russian aggression. At this critical juncture, Ukraine is seeking to bolster its defenses and cooperation with international allies to counter the Russian threat effectively.
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