Ukraine’s first lady and Navalny’s widow declined State of the Union invitation.
The White House revealed on Wednesday that invitations extended to Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, and Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, to attend the State of the Union address by President Joe Biden has been declined.
Initial plans, according to The Washington Post, had intended to seat Zelenska and Navalnaya next to First Lady Jill Biden during the highly anticipated address.
However, their decision to decline the invitation indicates a shift in the anticipated guest list.
While Navalny was known for his outspoken criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, it’s worth noting that he had previously made remarks suggesting that Crimea, annexed by Putin’s Russia, rightfully belonged to Russia.
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The potential presence of Navalny’s widow alongside Ukrainian officials could have sparked discomfort given the delicate political dynamics between Ukraine and Russia.
During a press briefing ahead of Thursday’s State of the Union address, White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre fielded questions regarding President Biden’s approach to foreign policy matters, including whether there would be efforts to garner more support from House Republicans for aid to Ukraine.
In response, Jean-Pierre emphasized President Biden’s commitment to urging House Republicans to prioritize national security concerns, stating, “The president’s going to continue to make his case that House Republicans need to move forward. The speaker needs to put the national security supplemental on the floor.”
She further underscored the importance of bipartisan support for such measures, asserting, “We know that it would get overwhelming support … we can’t let politics get in the way of our national security, so, the president is going to make that clear.”
As Ukraine’s first lady and Navalny‘s widow declined State of the Union invitation, this development comes amidst heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with the Biden administration under pressure to bolster support for Ukraine in the face of ongoing geopolitical challenges.
