Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, declined an invitation from President Biden to attend Thursday's State of the Union address, citing prior commitments.
Speculation arose that her decision may be linked to the presence of Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was also invited.
Although Mrs. Zelenska was asked to join First Lady Jill Biden during the speech, she respectfully declined due to prearranged engagements, including hosting children from an orphanage in Kyiv. Tetiana Haiduchenko, Mrs. Zelenska's press secretary, explained, "Due to scheduled events... the first lady will unfortunately not be able to attend the event."
Sources familiar with Kyiv's discussions revealed concerns over Mrs. Navalnaya's potential attendance, given Alexei Navalny's complex relationship with Ukraine, particularly his statements on Crimea. Mrs. Navalnaya, who recently lost her husband in a Russian prison, opted not to travel to Washington at this time.
Kira Yarmysh, Mrs. Navalnaya's spokeswoman, elaborated, "Yulia was indeed invited and considered going, but I think everyone forgets the circumstances against which the events unfolded... She needs time to recover... she very much appreciates the invitation, she needs to recover at least a little now."
The delicate circumstances surrounding these invitations highlight the intricate diplomatic dynamics at play amidst ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
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