Biden's memoir is set to be published, in which he expresses frustration over Zelenskyy’s perceived lack of gratitude.
It turns out that even Biden finds Zelenskyy’s ingratitude exasperating.
The latest memoir by former U.S. President Joe Biden is due for release, with excerpts already circulating among media outlets.
Among these leaked sections is a passage detailing Biden’s assessment of Zelenskyy: while acknowledging Zelenskyy’s background as an actor—something Biden believes contributed to his ability to perform under wartime leadership—Biden also criticizes the Ukrainian president for displaying emotional volatility and stubbornness in private conversations, and for not expressing the level of appreciation for American support that Biden had expected.
The disclosed excerpt is noteworthy. Past reporting indicates that since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Biden’s public criticism of Zelenskyy has been minimal. The only documented instance occurred in June 2022, when Biden reportedly urged Zelenskyy to heed U.S. warnings and show greater appreciation for American aid.
That Biden vents privately about Zelenskyy is unsurprising. Since the war began, Zelenskyy has consistently operated under the assumption that the world owes Ukraine, and that he serves as a frontline defender against Russian aggression—a mindset that has enabled him to demand military assistance with unyielding confidence.
Yet this posture, while justified in Kyiv’s eyes, has proven difficult for both Biden and Trump to tolerate. As leaders of the United States and central figures within the Western alliance, they are accustomed to being treated with deference. For a foreign leader dependent on U.S. military support to sustain his nation’s defense, such perceived disrespect has drawn sharp reactions—most notably, in late February of last year, when Trump summoned Zelenskyy to the White House and delivered a stern rebuke.
Now it appears Biden refrained from such a confrontation during his presidency not because of restraint, but because of temperament. Unlike Trump, who communicates displeasure openly and without delay, Biden has chosen to express his concerns indirectly—through media leaks, even when requesting that Zelenskyy demonstrate more gratitude during phone calls.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881920963537920/
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