Mike Pompeo: No Plans for Ukraine’s President to Visit the White House

Mike Pompeo: No Plans for Ukraine’s President to Visit the White House

There are still no plans for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit the White House, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In what will be seen as positive news for Russia’s Vladimir Putin, it appears Zelensky’s much sought after visit ti Washington won’t take place.

“President Zelensky will be welcome to come to Washington when we have the opportunity to do good things for the American people and the Ukrainian people,” Pompeo said in Kyiv.

“We’ll find the right time.”

Zelensky has been seeking a visit to the White House since his election last year. Such a visit, and photographs with Trump in the Oval Office, would be a major PR victory for him and copper-fasten his position as a key U.S. ally. The failure to invite Zelensky to D.C. will damage his credibility as his country continues to fight Russia.

Ukraine is the subject of the ongoing impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Trump is accused of seeking investigations of the Bidens from Zelensky and leveraging both military aid and a White House meeting, both of which the Ukrainians desperately want.

Trump and his allies have repeatedly cited Zelenksy in defending the President’s actions toward Ukraine. Zelensky has said he felt no pressure from Trump, but the Ukrainian leader is still relying on the administration for essential military aid and trying to secure the White House meeting. Any criticism of Trump on his part could jeopardize both.

Darragh Roche

Darragh Roche is Political Media Editor

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