In a moving speech to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday that included a graphic video presentation of violence and bloodshed, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked America for its support and reiterated his request for a no-fly zone over his country.
“We need you right now,” Zelensky said, adding “I call on you to do more.”
Zelensky invoked Pearl Harbor and September 11th, saying those air-borne tragedies are similar to the relentless onslaught Ukraine has suffered over the past three weeks. “Our country experiences the same every day.. every night…Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death.”
Zelensky said Russia has fired over a thousand missiles into Ukraine since the invasion began in late February. He played a video showing apartment buildings and other civilians infrastructure getting blown up.
“I need to protect our sky,” Zelensky said.
The video Zelensky played contained images of a peaceful Ukraine before the invasion juxtaposed with images of corpses, bleeding children, and besieged refugees. “We have to stop it. We must prevent it,” Zelensky said by way of introduction. The New York Times reports that several Congresspeople fought back tears as they watched.
Zelensky acknowledged that establishing a no-fly zone, which U.S. officials fear would provoke a direct military conflict with Russia, might be “too much to ask.” So he posed an alternative solution: give Ukrainians the military aircrafts and defense systems that could challenge the Russian onslaught.
“You know how much depends on the battlefield on the ability to use aircraft — powerful, strong aviation — to protect our people, our freedom, our land,” Zelensky said. “Aircraft that can help Ukraine, help Europe.”
Zelensky described the Ukrainian people as “brave and freedom loving.” He delivered his remarks from Kyiv, a city under siege that he said “has not given up. We have not even thought about it for a second.”
“Strong doesn’t mean big,” Zelensky said. “Strong is brave and ready to fight for the lives of his citizens and citizens of the world, for human rights, for freedom, for the right to live decently, and to die when your time comes. Not when it’s wanted by someone else.”
The Ukrainian president repeatedly framed Russia’s invasion as an assault on basic human rights, Western values, and Europe at-large.
He thanked President Joe Biden for the weapons, training, and money the U.S. has given to Ukraine. He praised Biden’s advocacy on the world stage and said “being the leader of the world means being the leader of peace.” Zelensky urged the U.S. to join a new alliance that could snuff out global confrontations before they metastasize.
Zelensky also asked the U.S. to expand its sanctions on Russian citizens, including all government officials. He said the West must ratchet up economic pressure “until the Russian military machine stops.”
The New York Times adds:
Biden plans to detail an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine after Mr. Zelensky’s speech to Congress, according to White House officials. Among Ukraine’s requests are more antiaircraft batteries that would enable the Ukrainian military to harass and shoot down Russian cargo planes and fighter jets.
