Thread by @WarintheFuture

An important characteristic demonstrated by @ZelenskyyUa is his willingness to take personal risk to visit soldiers in the field, and get his own sense of how military operations are unfolding. 1/7 🧵 #Ukraine #leadership

https://twitter.com/christopherjm/status/1533552735097872387

2/ These visits serve multiple ends. First, it allows @ZelenskyyUa to get a feel for the morale and capability of his military in the field. You can read reports all day, but there is no substitute for walking the ground with leaders at the tip of the spear.

3/ A second purpose is that it allows him to ask questions. This is an important function of a national political leader in their interaction with military commanders. It is explored by @EliotACohen in “Supreme Command”, and is an important aspect of healthy civ-mil relations.

4/ A third reason for the field visits by @ZelenskyyUa is to engage with the most junior soldiers in the field, to inspire them and to reiterate the purpose of their sacrifices. Purpose is the most important thing a leader can provide. #leadership

5/ A fourth reason is for @ZelenskyyUa to demonstrate that he has total trust in his Army. That he shows he remains comfortable in placing his life in the hands of his military is an important and strategic trust-building exercise between politicians and military leaders. #trust

6/ Fifth, this is an important way that @ZelenskyyUa differentiates himself from his adversary. I am pretty sure that Putin will not be accepting invitations to visit the poorly fed and led - but well armed - Russian troops in #Ukraine at any point in the near future.

7/ Finally, it draws the attention of audiences external to #Ukraine as part of their global influence campaign. This is smart. In demonstrating that he is not a ‘bunker leader’, @ZelenskyyUa shows us all that he is the leader of a nation worth supporting in the long term. End.