5 takeaways from Volodymyr Zelensky's historic visit to Washington - CNN

CNN  — 

Three-hundred days aft his state was invaded by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky jetted to Washington, DC, for talks connected what the adjacent 300 days mightiness bring.

Shrouded successful secrecy until the past minute, the historical sojourn was dense with symbolism, from Zelensky’s drab greenish sweatshirt to President Joe Biden’s blue-and-yellow striped necktie to the Ukrainian conflict emblem unfurled connected the House floor.

But the travel was astir acold much than symbols. Biden wouldn’t invitation Zelensky to Washington – and endure a risky travel extracurricular Ukraine for the archetypal clip since the warfare began – if helium did not judge thing existent could beryllium accomplished gathering face-to-face alternatively of implicit the phone.

Emerging from their talks, some men made wide they spot the warfare entering a caller phase. As Russia sends much troops to the frontlines and wages a brutal aerial run against civilian targets, fears of a stalemate are growing.

Yet arsenic Zelensky departed Washington for a lengthy and likewise risky instrumentality travel to Ukraine, it wasn’t wide that a pathway to ending the struggle was immoderate clearer.

In pictures: Zelensky's wartime sojourn to US

Gaining clarity connected wherever Zelensky stands erstwhile it comes to ending the warfare was among the prerogatives successful bringing him to the White House. The Ukrainian person had antecedently expressed a tendency for a “just peace” that would extremity the struggle – a constituent that US officials said would beryllium astatine the halfway of their talks Wednesday.

But connected Wednesday, Zelensky utilized bellicose rhetoric that suggested specified a bid was not close, saying the roadworthy to ending the warfare would not impact making concessions to Russia.

“For maine arsenic a president, ‘just peace’ is nary compromises,” helium said, indicating helium doesn’t spot immoderate roadworthy to bid that involves Ukraine giving up territory oregon sovereignty.

Later, successful his code to Congress, Zelensky said he’d presented a 10-point bid look to Biden – though US officials said afterward it was the aforesaid program helium offered to satellite leaders astatine the Group of 20 acme past month.

Among the Western nations that person rallied successful enactment down Zelensky, determination person been lingering concerns astir what Zelensky’s semipermanent program mightiness be.

For his part, Biden said it was up to Zelensky to “decide however helium wants to the warfare to end,” a long-held presumption that leaves plentifulness of questions unanswered.

Zelensky peppered his code to lawmakers with references to American history, from the captious Battle of Saratoga during the American Revolutionary War to the Battle of the Bulge successful World War II.

He delivered his code successful English, a purposeful prime helium telegraphed up of the speech. Even his attire – the now-familiar Army greenish shirt, cargo pants and boots – seemed designed to punctual his assemblage they were successful the beingness of a wartime leader.

Over the people of the conflict, Zelensky has demonstrated an acute quality to entreaty to his audience, beryllium they nationalist legislatures oregon the assemblage of the Grammys.

On Wednesday, helium sought to harness Americans’ affectional effect to his country’s suffering, evoking acheronian wintertime nights arsenic Russia seeks to interrupt Ukraine’s powerfulness supply.

“In two days we volition celebrate Christmas. Maybe candlelit. Not due to the fact that it’s much romantic, no, but due to the fact that determination volition not be – determination volition beryllium no electricity,” helium said.

But helium besides seemed alert that galore Americans – including immoderate Republicans successful Congress – person wondered aloud wherefore billions of US dollars are needed for a struggle thousands of miles away. He sought to marque the origin astir much than his ain homeland.

“The conflict is not only for life, freedom, and security of Ukrainians oregon any other federation which Russia attempts to conquer,” helium said. “The conflict volition specify successful what world our children and grandchildren volition unrecorded in.”

He added, “Your wealth is not charity. It’s an concern successful the planetary information and ideology that we grip successful the astir liable way.”

At the commencement of Russia’s warfare successful Ukraine, Zelensky turned down an American connection to evacuate him from Kyiv.

“I request ammunition, not a ride,” Zelensky told the US.

Ten months later, helium got both. When Zelensky touched down extracurricular Washington successful a US subject level Wednesday, his accomplishment capped a 10-day sprint by American and Ukrainian officials to put a risky wartime sojourn meant to rally enactment for Ukraine’s ongoing absorption to Russia’s invasion.

Just up of Zelensky’s arrival, the Biden medication announced it is sending astir $2 cardinal successful further information assistance to Ukraine – including a blase new Patriot aerial defence strategy that Zelensky has been requesting for months.

In weighing a visit, Zelensky suggested to advisers helium did not privation to question to Washington had determination not been a important improvement successful the bilateral narration with the United States, according to a root acquainted with the matter. Zelensky viewed the US determination to nonstop a Patriot rocket defence strategy to Ukraine arsenic a large displacement successful the narration betwixt the 2 allies.

Yet lasting alongside Biden, helium was frank that helium did not presumption the azygous Patriot strategy arsenic enough.

“We would similar to get much Patriots,” helium said arsenic Biden laughed. “I’m atrocious but we are successful war.”

Speaking aboriginal to Congress, Zelensky was again up beforehand that helium did not judge the American enactment was sufficient.

“Is it enough? Honestly, not really,” helium said of the artillery that the US has truthful acold provided.

Zelensky’s candid petition for much Patriots – and Biden’s lighthearted effect – amounted to a model into 1 of the world’s astir analyzable relationships.

On the surface, Biden and Zelensky person maintained a stalwart partnership. And Zelensky was effusive successful his praise of Biden arsenic helium went from the Oval Office to the East Room to Capitol Hill.

Yet it doesn’t instrumentality overmuch to spot tensions conscionable beneath the surface. Zelensky has consistently agitated for further US support, contempt the tens of billions of dollars successful subject assistance that Biden has directed to his country.

That hasn’t ever sat good with Biden oregon his team. But arsenic helium has with a big of different overseas leaders, Biden appeared intent Wednesday connected translating carnal proximity into a amended knowing of his counterpart.

“It is each astir looking idiosyncratic successful the eye. I mean it sincerely. I don’t deliberation determination is immoderate substitute for sitting down look to look with a person oregon a foe and looking them successful the eye,” helium said.

Biden invited Zelensky to Washington this week due to the fact that helium believes the warfare successful Ukraine is entering a “new phase,” officials said up of the visit. As wintertime sets successful and Russia continues targeting civilian infrastructure, the infinitesimal seemed ripe for Zelensky to marque a melodramatic nationalist entreaty for continued planetary support.

Yet the caller signifier isn’t lone connected the battlefield. Around the world, leaders are confronting the bitter fallout of Russia’s invasion. Higher vigor and nutrient prices, successful portion generated by pugnacious sanctions connected Moscow, person caused occupation for politicians successful Europe and the United States.

In Washington, Republicans poised to instrumentality power of Congress person made wide they won’t rubber stamp each of Biden’s requests for Ukraine assistance – though fears backing volition adust up wholly look unfounded. Congress is connected the verge of approving astir $50 cardinal successful further information and economical assistance.

Speaking to lawmakers, Zelensky repeatedly referred to members of “both parties,” seeking to framework his origin arsenic a bipartisan one.

Still, immoderate Republicans refused to be Zelensky’s code to Congress, a protestation of what they assertion are unrestrained dollars heading retired of the US.

It was against that backdrop Biden insisted US enactment would proceed for months.

He said it was “important for the American people, and for the world, to perceive straight from you, Mr. President, astir Ukraine’s fight, and the request to proceed to basal unneurotic done 2023.”