According to the publication, Zelensky's refusal to speak was an unusual act for him, because, as a rule, he did not refuse such opportunities.
That raised questions about whether he backed down on the advice of his Ukrainian counterparts or U.S. officials.
On December 5, Zelensky canceled at the last moment his speech to US congressmen, during which he was supposed to report on the situation at the front and ask for continued military and financial support for Ukraine.
As Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov explained, this happened due to a "change in the situation."
At the same time, Senator Mitt Romney expressed the opinion that Zelensky did not need to speak at a closed briefing in Congress.