Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington a year ago was a love-fest, characterised by standing ovations from American politicians, lavish praise from president Biden and a commitment to keep the aid flowing. His visit this week, however, occurred in a much different atmosphere.
The politics of Ukraine aid have changed, with a growing number of Republican lawmakers wondering whether sending more taxpayer dollars to underwrite a stalemate is a wise course of action. While Ukraine’s cause has received a better hearing in the senate, Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, is intent on using the Biden administration’s $106 billion (£85 billion) national security supplemental request (more than half of which is earmarked for Ukraine) to press for tougher immigration laws. The frontline in Ukraine has barely moved in places over the last year – or, where it has moved, the advancements have been so marginal as to be practically meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
President Biden continues to whisper sweet-nothings into the ears of Ukrainian officials
Zelensky understood he had a steep hill to climb.
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