Speaker cancels Zelensky meeting amid diplomatic scandal
At the last moment, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson cancelled a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The official reason given was other commitments. However, behind closed doors, it is said that the issue is related to a scandal involving Ukraine's ambassador in Washington.
On Wednesday, during a press conference, Mike Johnson was asked by journalists whether he would meet with the visiting Ukrainian President in the United States. The Speaker of the House replied that it would not be possible because of a very busy week.
This response might have surprised Volodymyr Zelensky because the meeting was scheduled for Thursday. "I don't even think I'll be in town tomorrow," stated the Speaker.
Strained relations
Mike Johnson also admitted that he fears that a meeting with Zelensky could lead to a deterioration of relations between the USA and Ukraine.
This is due to a diplomatic scandal that occurred in recent days. On Wednesday, the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson demanded that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remove Oksana Markarova from her position as ambassador to the United States.
"After organizing a partisan campaign event in a battleground state this week, Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova demonstrated she cannot be trusted to fairly and effectively serve as a diplomat in this country. President Zelenskyy must immediately remove her," reads Johnson’s post.
Zelensky only met with representatives of the Democrats, which was seen as an interference in the US presidential elections.
