According to an upcoming book by journalist Franklin Foer, US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky did not start off on the best terms when they first met in the White House in 2021. The Guardian reported on Wednesday that Washington was taken aback by Ukraine’s swift demands for NATO accession, while Zelensky felt humiliated. The book, titled ‘The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future,’ is set to be released next week.
The article explains that when Zelensky visited the US in September 2021, there was a lack of rapport between the two leaders. Ukraine’s assessment of its prospects of joining NATO was seen as absurd in Washington at the time. The Guardian cites the book’s claims that even Biden’s most ardent sympathizers in his administration agreed that Zelensky had bombed in the meeting. Zelensky supposedly harbored lingering resentments from the episode and blamed Biden personally for the humiliation he experienced.
Foer writes in his book that Biden didn’t think highly of Zelensky, referring to him as a slapstick comedian. He also notes that Biden had been deeply involved in Ukrainian politics for a longer time than Zelensky due to his role in US-Ukrainian relations under former President Barack Obama. Biden expected gratitude from Ukraine for his support, but Zelensky packed his conversations with a long list of demands, with NATO becoming a particularly contentious topic between the two presidents.
Zelensky initially demanded Ukraine’s admission into NATO, but Biden rejected the idea, citing a lack of support among NATO members. This reportedly led Zelensky to criticize the organization, calling it a historic relic with waning significance. He even claimed that France and Germany were planning to exit NATO. The response angered Biden, according to Foer. The article emphasizes that Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO quickly has strained its relations with Western allies for a while.
The tension surrounding Ukraine’s NATO aspirations reached a boiling point at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July. Zelensky criticized the bloc for its indecisiveness and the lack of a roadmap towards accession, calling it unprecedented and absurd. These comments reportedly infuriated Washington, and British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace also expressed a desire for gratitude from Ukraine for the support provided by Western nations.
In conclusion, the article highlights the strained relationship between Presidents Biden and Zelensky during their meeting in 2021. The book by Franklin Foer sheds light on their conflicting perspectives on Ukraine’s NATO accession and the subsequent resentment and humiliation experienced by Zelensky. The article also mentions the ongoing tension between Ukraine and Western backers regarding NATO membership.
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