On day 300 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, President Volodymir Zelensky got his much sought-after opportunity to be received at the White House. When he was elected President of Ukraine in April 2019, he asked President Trump for it. Again, Zelensky had asked President Joe Biden for it before the latter met President Putin in June 2021 in Geneva. Zelensky had wanted Biden to take up the matter of the annexation of Crimea in 2014 by Russia. Biden did not bring up the matter.
Zelensky’s visit has been choreographed industriously by both sides. Such was the push that a BBC commentator went to the extent of comparing Zelensky to Winston Churchill, who had met President Franklin Roosevelt in August 1941, a meeting that led to the historic Atlantic Charter.
Fearing a Russian attack, Zelensky took a train to Poland from where a military flight arranged by the Pentagon took him to Washington. We may assume that Washington would have advised Moscow in advance. The two militaries still talk to each other. Incidentally, Zelensky was in Bakhmut in Donetsk, within the range of Russian artillery. Do we take it that Russia chose not to target him as he met with the soldiers and distributed medals?
The timing was perfect as the address to the joint session of the Congress was delivered before the Democrats lost their majority in the House of Representatives. Ukraine has more support from Democrats than from Republicans one of whom has said that U.S. should stop issuing ‘blank cheques.’ On 3 January 2023 the newly elected House will meet with a thin Republican majority. Speaker Nancy Pelosi might have wanted the address by Zelensky before she left the office.
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