When Vice President Kamala Harris arrived at the summit, she announced $1.5 billion in U.S. assistance through the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
on Saturday pledged America’s full support in backing Ukraine and global efforts to achieve “a just and lasting peace” in the face of representing the United States at an international gathering on the war and meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss his country’s vision for ending it.
As she arrived at the meeting venue overlooking Lake Lucerne for what would be a 28-hour dash from Washington and back, Harris announced $1.5 billion in U.S. assistance through the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. That includes money for energy assistance, repairing damaged energy infrastructure, helping refugees and strengthening civilian security in the wake of the aggression by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“War is not our choice. It’s Putin’s choice”, Zelenskyy said alongside Harris before their private meeting. “And with this summit today, we will do everything we can to start moving toward real peace.”
Harris responded: “I am here today to stand with Ukraine and the leaders from around the world in support of a just and lasting peace.” She added that “as we look forward to that peace and work toward that, the United States is committed to helping Ukraine rebuild.”
President Joe Biden was in Los Angeles after three days at the Group of Seven summit in Italy, where he held talks with Zelenskyy. Biden flew from Europe to California for a Saturday night fundraiser with Hollywood A-listers George Clooney and Julia Roberts.
That decision to skip the summit on Ukraine spotlights the competing election-year demands facing Biden as he tries to balance a complicated domestic and foreign policy agenda while running against former President Donald Trump. It also reflects the growing profile Harris has found making the case for a second Biden term as the 2024 campaign heats up.
“Being vice president means you take a lot of hits for the team”, said Matt Bennett, who served as an aide to former Vice President Al Gore.
