'Those cities are gone'

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September 27, 2024

Stephen Collinson, Caitlin Hu and Shelby Rose

'Those cities are gone'

Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House may have been his final chance to convince a receptive American president of his country's war aims, CNN's Kevin Liptak and MJ Lee write.

The Ukrainian President was in Washington on Thursday to try and convince the Biden administration that his country can still win its war with Russia – so long as the United States and other nations significantly and quickly ramp up their military assistance. 

Just weeks before a US presidential election that could have a profound impact on his country's future, Vice President Kamala Harris used the moment to draw a stark contrast between her and former President Donald Trump's approach to the conflict.

"In candor, I share with you, Mr. President, there are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality and would require Ukraine to forego security relationships with other nations," Harris said outside her ceremonial office next to the White House.

"These proposals are the same of those of Putin, and let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable."

While Harris did not specify who she was talking about, the implication was clear. Zelensky has sought to cultivate relationships with Republicans, including Republican nominee Donald Trump, during his visits to the United States, but it could not have been lost on him – or anyone watching – that November's election is providing fresh urgency to his search for a way to position Ukraine for victory.

Zelensky is expected to meet the ex-president himself at Trump Tower in New York City tomorrow – and is surely in for a vastly different message from what he heard in Washington, where Biden vowed to allocate all of the Department of Defense's remaining security assistance funding for Ukraine and said he was approving new long-range weapons, Patriot missiles and F-16 pilot training for Ukraine. 

In contrast, Trump has long claimed he will be able to "settle" the war through negotiation upon taking office – and suggested that instead of increasing the Western weapons supply that Zelensky desperately seeks, he's inclined to cut off US support for Kyiv's war effort.
 

"Those cities are gone, they're gone, and we continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refused to make a deal, Zelensky," Trump said during a campaign speech in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday. "There was no deal that he could have made that wouldn't have been better than the situation you have right now. You have a country that has been obliterated, not possible to be rebuilt."

The world and America

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the military has "additional missions to complete" in its fight against Hezbollah, as the death toll in Lebanon reaches at least 1,540.

Hurricane John – a "zombie storm" – has regained strength in Pacific, flooding parts of Mexico's southwestern coast.

And China's newest nuclear-powered submarine sank earlier this year, a US official said.

Meanwhile in America, the massive Hurricane Helene has become a Category 4 storm as it tracks toward the Florida Panhandle.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on five federal charges related to bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals.

And the fate of Rupert Murdoch's vast media empire, including Fox News, is now in the hands of a Reno probate commissioner, who will decide whether the 93-year-old media mogul can change his succession plan to preserve the right-wing editorial bent of his influential outlets.

Our last UNGA update

CNN's Senior UN Correspondent Richard Roth writes for Meanwhile:

It's one of the biggest security operations in America: Protecting thousands of world leaders and their entourages at the annual high level United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.

As diplomats gathered for speeches and sideline gossip this week, CNN and a select group of media gained access to two high level security rooms on UN grounds, maneuvering down a long series of non-descript corridors at the heart of the organization's modernist headquarters.

What is most impressive is seeing a huge wall of monitors in both. It was clear there are cameras everywhere – some well-hidden, scattered all over the UN grounds aimed at doors, the garage, UN hallways, and driveways. There are 1400 cameras in total, UN officials said.

High shots from cameras looking at nearby corners outside the UN are always on. The UN security officials said its impossible to monitor all 1400 cameras at the same time but there are personnel checking out the scene.

If a visitor – or more nefarious character – runs into problems using their credential to enter the complex, an alarm will sound in the security control rooms, with an automated voice warning that the individual has been "Rejected! Rejected! Rejected!"

Remind me to fix my tie when I am walking through the UN grounds.

It's a team effort between the UN, New York Police Department, Secret Service and diplomatic security. They've got a lot of people to watch over – over 22,000 delegates were counted during this year's UNGA (pronounced like hunger).

Because its an annual event, security keeps a file. UN security says they learn a little bit each year.  

"Knock on wood; we have never had a security incident related to heads of state here. We have pulled out all the stops," said US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield on the eve of this year's global gathering.

New York police and diplomatic security are tasked with rushing long and short motorcades from hotels across Manhattan to the UN and back. And yes, that means traffic backups. More than ever, this year world leaders have spread across the city, from ringing in the New York Stock Exchange to meeting their constituents who live in in the US.

While the United Nations may be increasingly the target of criticism and forum for  "poisonous" barbs traded between ambassadors, handling unwanted attention and security threats has always been part of the job for staffers here.

Last year on New Years Day, a woman having a "psychiatric episode" drove her vehicle up to the UN's main entrance for cars and refused to leave. In 2002, a postal worker jumped the perimeter fence, tossed leaflets in the air, and fired shots at the soaring Secretariat building, hitting several floors. (The fence has been built higher now.)

UN security officials say their priority is providing a secure environment. So far so good.

Thanks for reading. 

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the UN General Assembly. Trump meets Zelensky in New York. Pope Francis visits Belgium. 

On Saturday, Harris holds a campaign event in San Francisco. Trump delivers remarks in Wisconsin.

On Sunday, Austria holds a National Council Election.