Zelensky's controversial U.S. trip stirs Republican backlash

The visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States has sparked outrage among some Republicans. Politicians accuse Zelensky of interfering in American electoral politics, reports The Washington Post on Friday. On the other hand, The New York Times suggests that "Zelensky's star power in Washington has noticeably faded."

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, appealing urgently to President Joe Biden on Thursday to let the country extend its use of American weapons, waded into a heightened partisan divide over the Russia-Ukraine war, with the U.S. presidential election weeks away,” writes The Washington Post.

The American newspaper highlights that Zelensky's trip to the U.S. was met with dissatisfaction among the Republican Party. The primary reason for the negative reactions was the Ukrainian president's statement in an interview with The New Yorker, where he indicated that the Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance is "too radical." An additional controversy arose from Zelensky's meeting with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro at an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania - a pivotal state in the upcoming elections.

The American newspaper reminds readers that states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, known as "swing states," where no party has a clear advantage, have a significant population of Eastern European descent. This voter segment traditionally supports Republicans, but Democrats hope that Donald Trump's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war might change their preferences.

"That helped explain why Zelensky’s trip Monday to Scranton, Pa., was so sensitive (...). Some European leaders privately questioned Zelensky’s judgment on Thursday, wondering why he had allowed himself to appear in a politically sensitive setting,” notes The Washington Post.

Meanwhile, in a commentary titled "Zelensky's Star is Fading," the NYT emphasizes that the Ukrainian president's reception in Washington was "far more muted" than during his visit two years ago, when "he was feted with standing-room-only crowds, rollicking ovations."

"Mr. Zelensky is widely regarded as Ukraine’s most persuasive advocate, gifted in his ability to cut through partisan congressional gridlock with appeals to speed weapons and other supplies to Kyiv. But as the war against Russia drags on, his star power in Washington has noticeably faded, with potentially dire consequences for the future of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine," writes NYT.