WASHINGTON šC It is a puzzle at the heart of the crisis over Russia¡¯s threat to invade Ukraine: Why has U.S. President Joe Biden, more than one year into his presidency, failed to name an ambassador to Kyiv?
Neither the Biden administration nor Ukraine¡¯s government is providing a clear explanation for a delay that career diplomats say would be baffling and inexcusable even in ordinary times, never mind at a moment when the U.S. relationship with Ukraine is as consequential as it has ever been.
Experts say that the presence of a full-time ambassador could help to smooth awkward relations that have emerged between the Biden administration and the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy despite Ukraine¡¯s heavy reliance on Washington for its defense against Russia. But it is also unclear how eager the Ukrainians are to receive an envoy from Biden, who submitted a candidate to Kyiv for approval weeks ago.
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