The president’s hectic diplomatic agenda will begin this weekend with the Quad Summit in his hometown, where he will convene with leaders from Australia, India, and Japan. President Joe Biden will then proceed to New York for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed by a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House to address the ongoing conflict with Russia. He is also working towards facilitating a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas before his term ends.
24, the president will also host a summit to address synthetic drug threats, a U.S.-led initiative to mobilize support among countries to disrupt the global supply chain of illicit fentanyl, according to the White House.
After his meetings in New York, Biden will return to the White House for another crucial meeting on Sept. 26.
“I’m looking forward to hosting my friend President Zelenskyy of Ukraine next week at the White House,” Biden said on X on Sept. 19.
“During his visit, I’ll reaffirm America’s commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends its freedom and independence.”
Peace Deal
Amid the packed diplomatic schedule, the White House has stated that it is working “diligently” to secure a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, one of the president’s primary goals before the end of this term.
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar remains the main obstacle in reaching a deal, Kirby told reports on Sept. 20.
Following the recent pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon, many have speculated that a peace deal is out of reach for the White House. A recent Wall Street Journal report suggested senior U.S. officials have privately admitted that they won’t expect a ceasefire agreement before the end of Biden’s term.
However, the president is still not pessimistic about the prospects for an agreement.
“If I ever say it’s not realistic, then I might as well leave,” he told reporters on Sept. 20 before starting his cabinet meeting. “A lot of things don’t look realistic until we get them done. We have to keep at it.”
Biden’s approval ratings have suffered, in part due to his handling of foreign affairs. The chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 marked a turning point in his presidency, causing his approval rating to fall. He also faced criticism for his handling of wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
