Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is remaining in Kyiv as the city remains under intense assault from Russian forces desperately trying to take the capital city. As we’ve reported, Vladimir Putin’s forces have suffered heavy losses over the first few days of the invasion, running into resistance they clearly didn’t expect.

On Friday, Russia offered terms of peace that amounted to a full capitulation, demanding neutrality, ceding of territory, and disarmament. The Ukrainians did not immediately respond, indicating they might be willing to negotiate. That appears to no longer be the case, though, with Zelensky telling the Russians to pound sand.

JUST IN – #Ukraine has rejected negotiations. The military campaign will now resume in "full force," the Kremlin proclaims.

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 26, 2022

If the Ukrainians have the resolve to continue fighting, and there’s every reason to believe they do, this is the right move. Putin’s terms were laughably one-sided, and to go to the negotiating table so quickly would itself represent a major concession by Ukraine. This invasion is not going according to plan for Russia, and while there will almost certainly be a time for a negotiated ceasefire in the future, that time isn’t now.

Meanwhile, the other part of this equation is the Ukrainian relationship with the United States. On that front, Zelensky has offered criticism of Joe Biden’s leadership, levying a sharp rebuke of the US president’s relatively weak initial action to the invasion.

In a statement, Zelenskyy seemed to swipe U.S. President Biden and others who imposed sanctions against Russia, which he claims did little to deter Russian aggression.

“This morning we are defending our state alone. Like yesterday, the world’s most powerful forces are watching from afar,” he said, the Kyiv Independent reported.

He added: “Did yesterday’s sanctions convince Russia? We hear in our sky and see on our earth that this was not enough.”

That rift escalated after Zelensky directly addressed urgings from the Biden administration for him to flee Ukraine instead of remaining to lead his nation’s defense. In a phrase that will no doubt become an iconic part of this entire saga, Ukraine’s president asserted, “I need ammunition, not a ride.”

Putin’s main achievement in the last 48 hours is making President Zelensky a global hero. His quote to Americans offering to evacuate him “I need ammunition, not a ride”.

— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) February 26, 2022

The contrast between Joe Biden heading off to Delaware for another four-day vacation in the middle of  Russia invading Europe while Zelensky rebuff’s calls for him to run couldn’t be starker. Whatever his flaws, Ukraine’s president has shown the world what real leadership looks like. Sometimes that means drawing a line in the sand and being willing to die over it.

And while some, including on the right, have suggested we shouldn’t criticize the US president in the midst of this conflict, I think that’s bunk. One, the US response has been relatively weak and we are not actually involved in the war. Two, if Biden can’t even take things seriously enough to stay at the White House as Ukraine begs for assistance, then he’s fair game. Let it rip on his impotence.