© Reuters. U.S. President Joe Biden welcomes Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the South Garden on the White Home in Washington, U.S., December 21, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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By Michelle Nichols
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s assembly with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on Wednesday marks a excessive level in ties between Ukraine and its most essential ally, placing the highlight on a relationship strengthened by Russia’s invasion, however not with out some friction alongside the best way.
The go to, which is Zelenskiy’s first journey outdoors of Ukraine because the battle began, may even underscore the belief between the 2 international locations with a White Home assembly, a go to to Congress and a concentrate on extra weapons for Kyiv.
It is a relationship that hasn’t been with out irritation, regardless of the sturdy navy and diplomatic help that the USA has given to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24.
“Friction is inevitable even between shut allies in wartime,” mentioned Worldwide Disaster Group U.N. Director Richard Gowan.
“The U.S. and UK had enormous rows over learn how to combat the Second World Struggle. So I do not suppose we should always essentially let day-to-day friction obscure how a lot assist the U.S. has given Ukraine,” Gowan mentioned.
Stress between the leaders has been on show at a number of key moments over the previous yr.
Most just lately Biden disputed Zelenskiy’s remark that missiles that landed in Poland final month weren’t of Ukrainian origin, bluntly telling reporters: “That is not the proof.”
And as the USA warned in January that Moscow was amassing tens of hundreds of troops to invade, Zelenskiy accused Washington and the media of fuelling panic that weighed on the economic system whereas there have been “no tanks within the streets”.
A month later Russia invaded Ukraine.
Western powers have since stepped as much as provide Ukraine with weapons and assist, taken in tens of millions of refugees and inflicted extreme sanctions on Russia. However Zelenskiy saved pushing for extra, together with a no-fly zone that was rejected in March by NATO.
“There was a NATO summit, a weak summit, a confused summit, a summit the place it was clear that not everybody considers the battle for Europe’s freedom to be the primary purpose,” Zelenskiy mentioned on the time.
Then in June Zelenskiy praised NATO’s summit in Madrid, which paved the best way for Finland and Sweden to hitch the alliance, however demanded extra navy help and a fair more durable stance on Russia. “We’d like safety ensures, and it’s a must to discover a place for Ukraine within the frequent safety house.”
NATO membership for Ukraine has been a long-running and contentious query. Zelenskiy has pressed for the navy alliance to confess his nation into the group. Ukraine has a promise from NATO relationship from 2008, when Biden was vice chairman below Barack Obama, that it will finally be given the chance to hitch.
The alliance has but to maneuver ahead on Ukraine’s software, nevertheless. In November, NATO reaffirmed that 2008 determination, however once more supplied no particular steps or timetable.
MORE WEAPONS, PLEASE
America has supplied Ukraine with $19.3 billion in navy assist through the battle. Biden will on Wednesday announce almost $2 billion in additional navy assist, together with a Patriot missile battery – one of the crucial superior U.S. air protection programs and one that’s often briefly provide with allies around the globe vying for it.
Zelenskiy desires extra, however has additionally proven his gratitude for what Ukraine has already acquired from Washington.
His political adviser Mykhailo Podolyak mentioned Zelenskiy’s go to to the USA supplied a chance to clarify the true scenario in Ukraine, what weapons Kyiv must combat Russia – particularly armored autos, the newest missile protection programs and long-range missiles – and why it wants them.
Past this, the go to underlines a perception that each Biden and Zelenskiy maintain – that the USA stays the chief of the free world, mentioned Daniel Fried, former U.S. ambassador to Poland and a fellow on the Atlantic Council.
“He did not go to Berlin, Brussels, London or Paris,” mentioned Fried. “In fact he is pushing for extra assist, in fact he is pushing for extra weapons and naturally he typically rubbed the Biden administration the mistaken means by pushing laborious.”
However he added that Zelenskiy is aware of that “America makes the distinction.”
