**Zelensky Faces Mixed Signals During Pivotal US Visit**

In what was touted as a crucial week for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to the United States, aiming to drum up support for his ambitiously titled "victory plan." The Ukrainian leader sought to rally backing from America's most influential politicians, but his visit has left uncertainty over whether Kyiv's vital requests will be fulfilled.

Zelensky's comments to the New Yorker magazine criticizing senior Republicans, including Donald Trump and his vice-presidential running mate JD Vance, did not go over well. He suggested Trump lacked the capability to end the war and called Vance "too radical." Mariya Zolkina, a Ukrainian political analyst and research fellow at the London School of Economics, described these statements as a significant misstep.

During his US visit, a meeting with top Democrats at an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania was criticized by a senior Republican as meddling in the election. Zolkina noted that this backlash took Zelensky's normally well-oiled PR team by surprise.

The trip was strategically timed to secure vital support from President Joe Biden, who has limited time left in office. However, this placed Zelensky directly into the fray of a heated US election campaign, creating a delicate situation. Zelensky and Trump eventually met at Trump Tower in New York City, but the encounter was somewhat awkward, with Trump stating he had good relationships with both Zelensky and Vladimir Putin—remarks unsettling to Ukrainian ears.

Despite these challenges, Zelensky described the talks with Trump as "very productive," even as Trump continued to tout his vision of swiftly "settling" the war, raising concerns that he might reduce aid to Kyiv and press Ukraine to cede territory. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris took a veiled jab at Trump's stance, asserting that those advocating for Ukraine to trade land for peace are supporting "proposals for surrender."

Throughout the week, Zelensky engaged in a whirlwind of diplomatic meetings and media appearances, including a notable stop at the United Nations. He secured some additional financial support before a meeting at the White House with Biden. Though the discussions were cordial, they yielded ambiguous outcomes, exemplified by Zelensky presenting his "victory plan" to the outgoing president. The plan's details remain unpublished, but it's believed to include requests for the use of Western-made long-range missiles and more definitive security guarantees, including a much-coveted invitation to join NATO.

Moscow's forces continue to press in eastern Ukraine, notwithstanding Kyiv's unexpected incursion into Russia's Kursk region. The "victory plan" aims to reinforce Ukraine's battlefield position and push Putin towards negotiating peace. However, Zolkina argues that the suite of proposals failed to generate much enthusiasm. Zelensky appears intent on securing a NATO invitation, but the US currently remains hesitant, particularly on the matter of long-range missiles. Critics allege Biden is jittery about granting such a request as he supports Harris's presidential bid.

Overall, Zelensky's US visit has highlighted the complex and, at times, strained dynamics of international diplomacy amid an ongoing war and an intense American election season.