Ukrainian-American relations, which previously demonstrated harmony against the background of the joint fight against Russian aggression, are once again going through a crisis. According to The Telegraph , President Volodymyr Zelensky's refusal to lower the mobilization age has become another irritant in his relations with US President Joe Biden.
The publication notes that there have been conflicts between the two leaders before, but the current conflict could be a turning point. The reason was the statement of the representative of the US State Department about the readiness to support the creation and training of new Ukrainian brigades. For Zelensky, this probably turned out to be a challenge that cannot be left unanswered.
The Ukrainian leader decided to act decisively: his public reaction, according to sources, was a "farewell blow" to Biden, who remains one of Ukraine's key allies.
The American side expected greater involvement from Ukraine, in particular due to a possible lowering of the mobilization age, which could provide additional human resources for the Armed Forces. But this idea ran into resistance from Kyiv. Given the social risks, Zelensky is obviously not ready to take such a step, considering it dangerous for internal stability.
The tension in relations between Biden and Zelensky may affect the future of military aid to Ukraine. The US remains the largest donor of defense resources, but any escalation between the leaders could change the dynamics of this partnership.
According to analysts, Zelenskyi's decision evokes understanding among a part of Ukrainian society, but calls into question the long-term support of Washington. Instead, Biden, who has 42 days left in his presidential term, may be looking for ways to increase his influence, which creates additional risks for Ukraine.
