Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy went into the NATO summit at Vilnius, Lithuania, obviously upset about a lack of progress in providing Ukraine a route to NATO membership. Hours later, he emerged from a one-on-one meeting with President Joe Biden seemingly more upbeat about the day’s results.
But at the end of the day, it was clear that Zelenskyy’s attitude was more resignation than satisfaction. Ukraine was given assurances of more military assistance, and those assurances help meet the nation’s immediate need in the face of a war that has churned on, 24/7, for the past 504 days. However, Ukraine was denied the one thing it most wanted: a promise that, when the war is done, it will be accepted as a member of NATO.
There’s one big reason behind why, one day after the NATO summit, Zelenskyy is still fuming over this point. At the heart of his fury is a serious concern, even a deep fear, that’s not focused on what Russia will do in the future, but what America will do in the next two years.