When managing different types of crises, it is often a best practice to go to the scene of the crisis to help show that you are on top of the situation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing a tough decision about responding to the unfolding crisis in his country.
Should he travel to Munich, Germany on Saturday to speak to leaders at a security conference, including Vice President Kamala Harris to solicit, solidify or confirm their support—or stay in Ukraine as tensions continue to rise prior to a possible Russian invasion? His decision could have far-reaching consequences.
‘The Stakes Could Not Be Higher’
Former ambassador Sarah Mendelson is an expert on Russia and the head of Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College in Washington, D.C. She observed that Zelenskyy “has to weigh the benefit of being in person with the Vice President. The mayor of Kyiv is there and spoke compellingly today about the need for support.
“Conference-goers ought to hear also from Zelensky, but he shouldn’t be down playing the situation, which he has done on occasion. The risk is that Putin takes his leaving the country as the moment to invade. The stakes could not be higher,’’ she concluded.
‘We Are Observing The Situation...”
NBC News reported today that, “Zelenskyy may scrap his plans to attend a security conference in Germany this weekend due to the escalating crisis with Russia, his spokesperson said...”
“As of this morning, President Zelenskyy was planning to attend the Munich Security Conference,” the spokesperson said. “Now we are observing the situation, which is getting more and more dramatic.”
Mykola Volkivsk, a political expert and former advisor to a top official of the Ukrainian Parliament, is president of The First International Ukrainian Foundation of Development and attending the security conference in Munich.
He thought that “it is best for Zelensky, as head of state, to stay in Ukraine and do everything possible to de-escalate the situation, rather than give cause for panic among the population. Our other representatives will be able to hold meetings with partners, and the message with this visit to Ukraine may be misunderstood.
‘’I will remind you that in 2003, Russia already arranged provocations and attempts of exploiters in a situation in the Kerch Strait that could affect control over Crimea. At the time, our President Leonid Kuchma was on a working visit to Latin America, so we cannot forget this lesson. Volodymyr Zelensky should closely monitor the situation in Ukraine,” he concluded.
White House Concerned…Or Not
According to NBC News, “The Biden administration is reportedly worried that Russian President Vladimir Putin might in some way take advantage of Zelenskyy’s absence from Ukraine.
“Asked if anyone in President Joe Biden's administration had conveyed to Zelenskyy's government that U.S. officials don’t believe it’s a good idea for him to leave the country at this time, State Department spokesman Ned Price declined to answer directly. “We have indicated this is a decision for him to make,” Price said on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports.
Or, as Mitchell pointed out, ‘’There is always Zoom.”
When asked this afternoon about whether Zelenskyy should travel to Munich for meetings tomorrow, a senior Biden administration official said, "That's really his call. It's really up to him to decide where he needs to be." Asked specifically if they were concerned, the officials said, flatly, "No."
‘He Might Change His Mind’
“Zelenskyy was scheduled to leave for the conference tomorrow morning, but “if there is a dramatic escalation or some worrying messages then he might change his mind,” the spokesperson said.
“A final decision will be made in the next few hours, the spokesperson added.”
Zel: “That’s a judgement for him to make…’’ President Joe Biden told reporters today. ‘’I’ve spoken with Zelensky a dozen times, maybe more, and in the pursuit of a diplomatic solution it may be a wise choice.”
Other Crisis Situations
When it is safe to do so, corporate and government officials often travel to the scene of a natural disaster or other crisis as a way to help underscore their awareness about the situation or their efforts to address it.
This was certainly the case President Joe Biden visited the site a bridge collapse outside Pittsburgh in January or last year when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the collapsed condo in Surfside, Florida.
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As Ukraine Crisis Escalates, Zelenskyy Faces Tough Choice About Staying In Country - Forbes
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