Presidents Zelensky and Biden talk security and governance

U.S. President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelensky
spoke by phone on Friday, Apr. 2. Zelensky’s office posted a release on its
website stating that the two leaders discussed in detail areas of mutual
concern, including security and the fight against corruption. Zelensky pointed
to his fight for greater transparency in government and removing the overwhelming
influence of oligarchs in Ukrainian politics. He invited Biden to visit on
Ukraine’s independence day.

Biden reiterated the importance he places on Ukraine,
his support for Ukraine’s progress toward NATO membership, and that he looks
forward to visiting Ukraine.

James Hydzik: The phone
call, long-awaited by the Zelensky team, was hastened somewhat by Russian
military maneuvers on the Ukrainian border. However, the call would have been
awkward if Zelensky had not dismissed Constitutional Court judges
Oleksandr Tupytskiy and Oleksandr Kasminin on March 27. As we reported, the
dismissals were enough to initiate a call between Head of the Presidential
Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan
on March 29.

Also, the call gave Zelensky more breathing room in
terms of flying to Qatar on Apr. 4, as the Qataris and Russians both know that
Zelensky is in Washington’s good graces, and that the U.S. is watching.