The Ukrainian President has had some success with his video addresses to Western politicians, especially at the beginning of the war.
Most notably, his outspoken, accusatory manner prompted the imposition of unprecedented sanctions on Russia.
This strategy is now reaching its limits.
Zelenskyi once again spoke strongly to the consciences of the assembled heads of state and government of NATO, but initially received no commitments to his request for combat aircraft and tanks.
And what the “serious consequences” would be, which the alliance announces in the event that Moscow uses chemical or biological weapons, remained open in Brussels.
The fact that Allianz will not go into the field even then is not an overly bold prediction.
The tragedy gets worse
It would be in the interest of the West if Putin lost the war, or at least was severely weakened.
Perhaps that could even be achieved with the current mix of economic sanctions and the supply of light weapons.
But it may take a long time, which makes the tragedy worse for Ukrainians.
A delivery of anti-ship missiles, which Biden is now at least letting the alliance talk about, would be a different category; it would limit Putin's leeway on the southern front.
That would be a step forward for Ukraine, because the reports of Russian problems do not mean that the war has already been decided.