Zelenskyy in Washington
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"Your money is not charity. It's an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way"
Hello Team!
Jonathan provides analysis on Zelensky's short visit to Washington to meet with President Biden and address Congress. The visit was kept under wraps for security reasons. Zelensky aimed to forge a relationship with Biden and gain support, especially from skeptical Republicans.
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Zelensky's speech to Congress
- Zelensky highlighted that the struggle in Ukraine will define the world for future generations and that the battle cannot be ignored. He said Ukraine and the US are allies in this battle.
- He emphasized that Ukraine is not asking for American soldiers to fight, just for the equipment. He said US money is not charity but an investment in global security and democracy.
- Zelensky received 18 standing ovations. Most Republicans stood and clapped, but some of the more conservative/MAGA members like Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert were less enthusiastic.
Conservative backlash to Zelensky's attire
Some conservative commentators and media figures lashed out at Zelensky for wearing military fatigues rather than a suit to address Congress. They called it disrespectful and ungraceful. However, others pointed out Zelensky was sending a message that he came straight from the warzone and compared it to Churchill doing the same in WWII. Jonathan strongly disagrees with the critics.
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Why the US isn't providing certain weapons
Biden addressed why the US is not giving Ukraine "everything there is to give": 1) There is an alliance critical to supporting Ukraine. Providing fundamentally different material could break up NATO and the EU. 2) Biden has spent hundreds of hours convincing European allies to support Ukraine. They don't want to go to war with Russia or start WWIII. Jonathan feels this doesn't fully answer the question of why the US won't provide long-range missiles specifically, which he sees as a potential game-changer that wouldn't necessarily provoke Russia to escalate.
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Wrap up
Jonathan suspects Zelensky's visit was partly aimed at currying favor with skeptical Republicans. He acknowledges his analysis may annoy conservative viewers but believes the concerns from GOP politicians attacking Zelensky's attire are genuine issues worth discussing. He invites viewers to share their thoughts.
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