More than 300 days after his country was taken over by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is in Washington for talks on what could happen in the next 300 days.

US President Joe Biden and the Ukrainian leader are supposedly acting as a united front, but Biden would not invite Zelenskyi to Washington – and the Ukrainian leader would not make a risky trip outside of Ukraine for the first time since the beginning of the war. war – , if he didn’t believe anything real could be accomplished by meeting face-to-face rather than on the phone, according to a CNN analysis.

Shrouded in mystery until the last minute, Zelenskyi’s historic visit to Washington was full of symbolism: from Zelenskyi’s dark green T-shirt to President Joe Biden’s yellow-and-blue striped tie and the Ukrainian battle flag unfurled at the plenary session of the House of Representatives. But Zelensky’s trip to Washington meant more than just symbols.

After several hours of conversation, Zelenskyi and Biden made it clear that they see the war entering a new phase. As Russia sends more troops to the front line and conducts a brutal air campaign against Ukrainian civilian targets, fears of a stalemate are growing. And while Zelensky was returning from Washington to Ukraine – a long and no less risky journey – it was unclear whether there was a way to end the conflict, CNN notes.

BIDEN WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW THE WAR WOULD END

One of the stakes in bringing Zelensky to the White House was for President Joe Biden to find out exactly what the Ukrainian president’s position is on ending the war. Earlier, the Ukrainian leader expressed his desire for a “just peace” to end the conflict – an issue that US officials said would be at the center of talks on Wednesday.

But on Wednesday, Zelenskyi used militant rhetoric, hinting that there is no such peace. He said that the way to end the war does not involve concessions to Russia. “For me, as the president, a just peace is the absence of compromises,” said Zelensky, demonstrating that he does not see a path to peace if Ukraine gives up territories or sovereignty.

Later, speaking before Congress, Zelensky said he presented Biden with a 10-point peace formula. According to CNN, US officials said it was the same plan they presented to world leaders at the G20 summit last month.

Concerns are beginning to emerge among some Western states that have offered Zelensky support about what Zelensky’s long-term plan might mean, CNN reports.

For his part, Biden said Zelenskyy should “decide how he wants the war to end,” an old opinion that leaves many questions unanswered.

ZELENSKY SHOWED THAT HE KNOWS HIS VIEWER AND BRAGGED HIS ACTOR’S SKILLS

Zelensky peppered his speech to Congress with references to American history, from the pivotal Battle of Saratoga in the Revolutionary War to the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

He delivered his speech in deliberately chosen English. Even his attire—the now-familiar army green, pants with side pockets, and boots—seemed intended to remind listeners that they were in the presence of a wartime leader.

Throughout the conflict, Zelenskyi has shown a special ability to address his audience, be it national parliaments or an audience at the Grammy Awards.

On Wednesday, he sought to capitalize on Americans’ emotional response to his country’s suffering, recalling the dark winter nights when Russia tried to cut off electricity to Ukraine. “In two days we will celebrate Christmas. Maybe by candlelight. Not because it’s more romantic, no, but because it’s not mainstream,” he said.

But Zelensky also seemed aware that many Americans, including some Republicans in Congress, questioned why billions of US dollars were needed for a conflict thousands of miles away. And he tried to make this case something more than a plea for his own country. “The fight is not only for the life, freedom and safety of Ukrainians or any other nation that Russia is trying to conquer. The world our children and grandchildren will live in depends on the struggle,” he said. “Your money is not charity. These are investments in global security and democracy, which we dispose of in the most responsible way,” Zelenskyy added.

ZELENSKY ACCEPTS THE AMERICAN OFFER

At the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky refused the US offer to evacuate him from Kyiv. “I need ammunition, not a trip,” Zelensky told the Americans.

Ten months later he got them both.

When Zelenskyi landed outside Washington on Wednesday aboard a U.S. military plane, his arrival capped a 10-day sprint by U.S. and Ukrainian officials to organize a risky wartime visit aimed at rallying support for Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion.

Just before Zelenskyi’s arrival, the Biden administration announced that it was sending Ukraine nearly $2 billion in additional security assistance, including the sophisticated Patriot air defense system that Zelenskyi has been asking for for months.

After receiving an invitation to come to the United States, Zelensky told advisers that he did not want to go all the way to Washington, unless there was a significant development of bilateral relations, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. Zelensky called the US decision to send the Patriot anti-missile defense system to Ukraine a major change in relations between the two allies and recorded it as such.

However, at the press conference with Biden, he was honest: he does not consider the single Patriot system sufficient. “We’d like to get more Patriots,” he said, prompting President Biden to laugh. “I’m sorry, but we have a war,” Zelensky added.

COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIPS

Speaking later in Congress, Zelensky was again frank and said that he did not consider American support sufficient. “Is it enough? Frankly speaking, not much,” he said regarding the artillery that the US has provided to Ukraine so far.

Zelenskyi’s serious request for “more patriots” — and Biden’s cheerful response — hinted at some of the most complicated relationships in the world. At first glance, Biden and Zelenskyi have shown that they have a strong partnership. Zelenskyi lavishly praised Biden both at the White House and on Capitol Hill. However, CNN comments, it doesn’t take much to see that there is tension just beneath that surface. Zelenskyi constantly insisted on additional US support, despite the tens of billions of dollars that Biden directed to his country for military aid.

This did not always sit well with Biden or his team. But as with a number of other foreign leaders, Biden on Wednesday seemed determined to show that physical proximity also means a better understanding of his counterpart. “It’s all about looking somebody in the eye. I’ll be honest. I don’t think there’s an alternative to standing face to face with a friend or an enemy and looking them in the eye,” Biden said.

A NEW STAGE OF THE WAR

Biden invited Zelenskyi to Washington this week because he believes the war in Ukraine is entering a “new phase,” officials said ahead of the visit. With winter upon us and Russia continuing to target civilian infrastructure, Zelenskyy seemed to have an opportune time to make a strong public appeal for continued international support.

However, the new phase is not only on the battlefield. All over the world, leaders are grappling with the unpleasant consequences of Russia’s invasion. Higher energy and food prices, caused in part by tough sanctions imposed on Moscow, have caused problems for policymakers in Europe and the United States.

In Washington, Republicans who are about to take control of Congress have made it clear that they will not approve every request by Biden for aid to Ukraine – although fears that the funding will completely stop appear to be unfounded. Congress is on the verge of approving nearly $50 billion in additional economic and security aid.

In the presence of deputies, Zelensky repeatedly referred to members of “both parties”, trying to present his case as a bipartisan one. However, some Republicans refused to attend Zelenskyi’s speech in Congress, protesting the fact that, in their opinion, money is flowing out of the United States in an uncontrolled manner.

Against this background, Biden insists that US support will continue for months. “It is important for the American people and the world to hear directly from you, Mr. President, about Ukraine’s struggle and the need to continue to be together in 2023,” he told Zelensky.

(source: news.ro)