Ukraine's First Lady Made a Wise Decision
Ukraine Story explores why Olena Zelenska’s decision not to attend the Biden State of the Union is in the best interest of Ukraine and the United States.
Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska
Some argue that Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, made a strategic error by declining the White House’s invitation for her to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Nation address as his honored guest. I respectfully disagree. The decision was bathed in wisdom.
By not attending she preserves the dignity of her nation which she must represent; she maintains the moral clarity of the Ukrainian cause; and she avoids undermining the present political battle for Ukraine in the United States Congress.
Here’s why:
Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya
First, the strength of Ukraine is the crystal clarity of its moral case. The presidential invitation was extended to both Mrs. Zelenska and the recently widowed Mrs. Navalny. While her husband was a fierce opponent to Putin, Navalny was not a friend to Ukraine. The death of Navalny is tragic, significant and highly symbolic, but in the context of Ukraine, Navalny's legacy is muddied. The one woman is mourning the loss of her pro-Crimea invasion Russian patriot husband. The other woman is representing her nation of 42 million people, tens of thousands of whom have been killed by Russians, and millions displaced. While it may serve the campaign objectives of the Biden Administration to place the two women together on a national stage, it does not serve the interest of Ukraine.
Second, rather than encouraging bi-partisan support for military aid to Ukraine, her presence could have backfired. Presently, Ukraine has the support of Democrats and a significant number of Republicans. The focus now is to get Speaker Johnson to take action. Hardened critics of Ukraine are looking for more opportunities to reduce the entire issue to a partisan dispute with the Biden Administration. Positioning Mrs. Zelenska as President Biden's honored guest at the height of his campaign for president would further that goal and negatively influence Republicans who are confused or tentative on Ukraine. Importantly, Mrs. Zelenska demonstrates a necessary and accurate representation of Ukraine’s level independence from the Biden Administration (or any future American administration) which on-the-fence Republicans need to see.
Third, the State of the Nation address will be a referendum on the mental competency of President Biden. This week, the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released a poll indicating that more than 6 in 10 (63%) Americans doubt Biden’s mental capability to serve effectively as president. His State of the Union address will be akin to a real-time audition for a second term. Under no circumstances should the future of the free world and the cause of Ukraine be hitched to a de facto referendum on President Biden's mental clarity.
DW Phillips is an attorney and filmmaker with Ukraine Story presently directing Ukraine Story Anthologies.
