The White Home confirmed that Ukraine’s First Woman Olena Zelenska, and Yulia Navalnaya, spouse of the late Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny, declined invites to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union (SoTU) handle on Thursday.
The White Home had deliberate to seat Zelenska and Navalnaya close to First Woman Jill Biden, based on the Washington Put up. Nevertheless, each declined the invitation, American media homes reported.
The request got here as Congress fights over securing more cash for Ukraine in its battle with Russia.
“Resulting from scheduled occasions, together with a go to of youngsters from an orphanage to Kyiv, which was deliberate prematurely, the primary woman will sadly not be capable to attend the occasion,” Tetiana Haiduchenko, Zelenska’s press secretary, advised media shops.
Reportedly, the seating association brought on discomfort for some Ukrainians resulting from Navalny’s statements concerning Crimea.
Navalny had prompt that Crimea, which Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed in 2014, belonged to Russia, regardless of condemning Putin’s aggression.
Yulia Navalnaya opted out as a result of current passing of her husband Alexei Navalny.
“Yulia was certainly invited and thought of going, however I feel everybody forgets the circumstances in opposition to which the occasions unfolded,” her spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, advised The Washington Put up.
She added, “Yulia’s husband died two weeks in the past. She’s been travelling all this time. In the present day is the primary day she’s been residence in any respect. Like several human being, she wants time to get well, and so whereas she very a lot appreciates the invitation, she must get well no less than slightly now.”
BIDEN TO ADDRESS FOREIGN POLICY IN SPEECH
Press Secretary Jean-Pierre didn’t touch upon the precise particulars of President Biden’s international coverage handle within the State of the Union however reiterated the administration’s name for Home Republicans to help extra support for Ukraine.
“The president’s going to proceed to make his case that Home Republicans want to maneuver ahead. The speaker must put the nationwide safety supplemental on the ground.
The Press Secretary declined to share additional particulars on the explanations for his or her absence in President Joe Biden’s State of the Union handle.
