The White House confirmed on Wednesday that Ukraine's first lady and the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were invited to the State of the Union but declined to attend. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to provide details. According to The Washington Post, the White House intended to seat Olena Zelenska and Yulia Navalnaya near first lady Jill Biden. However, the presence of Navalny's widow caused discomfort for the Ukrainians due to his past statements suggesting that Crimea belonged to Russia, despite condemning Putin's aggression.
When asked about President Joe Biden's approach to addressing foreign policy issues in Thursday's State of the Union address and whether he will urge House Republicans to support more Ukraine aid, Jean-Pierre stated, "The president will continue to make his case that House Republicans need to move forward. The speaker needs to put the national security supplemental on the floor. We know that it would receive overwhelming support. We can't allow politics to obstruct our national security, so the president will be unequivocal about that."
Overall, the White House's confirmation of the invitations to the State of the Union underscores the delicate diplomatic dance surrounding the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's aggressive actions. The decision by the Ukrainian first lady and Navalny's widow not to attend highlights the complexities and sensitivities involved in such high-profile international events. President Biden's expected focus on foreign policy and Ukraine aid in his address reflects the ongoing tensions and the administration's efforts to garner bipartisan support for measures to support Ukraine's sovereignty and security.
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