Zelensky pleads with Congress to 'do more'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Video screenshot)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Video screenshot)

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine on Wednesday remotely addressed the U.S. Congress, pleading with the United States to “do more” to help his nation fight off the invasion launched nearly three weeks ago by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He asked for a no-fly zone, additional aircraft and air defense machines, and a new security alliance.

And he was declared the clear victor already in the information war that has accompanied the violence and destruction Putin has been inflicting on Ukrainians, many of the victims women and children, with a video.

It revealed the happiness of the Ukrainians before Putin’s attacks.

And it revealed the women and children who have become Putin’s victims.

A commentary at Twitchy said, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, that was worth more words than we can count.”

“That video is tremendously difficult to watch, but it’s also absolutely vital to make sure that it’s seen not just by the U.S. government, but by everyone. Zelenskyy understands that very well and is right and wise to put it all out there for the world.”

The commentary continued, “Ukraine has already defeated Russia handily on the propaganda front, and you genuinely love to see it. What Ukraine is facing at the hands of Vladimir Putin is nothing short of heartbreaking, horrible, and inhumane. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is dedicated to protecting them, and you’d have to have a heart of stone not to want to see him succeed and to see Ukraine triumph over the evil that is Vladimir Putin.”

Fox News said Zelenskyy was speaking remotely to Congress from Kyiv, and he thanked Joe Biden for his “sincere” commitment to the defense of Ukraine and the U.S. for aid it has provided.

But he said “now it is true in the darkest time for our country, for the whole Europe, I call on you to do more.”

Experts have warned that Putin appears to be willing to turn the conflict nuclear if he sees himself as failing, and multiple reports have suggested the Russian army has lost massive numbers of men and machines, and has been prevented from reaching multiple goals in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy addressed Biden directly, telling him that he wishes Biden would be the “leader of the world,” which would mean being “the leader of peace.”

Zelenskyy cited America’s own history of conflict, with Pearl Harbor, Sept. 11, 2001, and more, when “innocent people were attacked.”

Congress delivered a standing ovation, and Biden announced plans for an additional $800 million of assistance to Ukraine, including anti-aircraft systems and anti-armor systems.

Part of Zelenskyy’s address:

Zelenskyy said Putin has turned the Ukrainian sky “into a source of death for thousands of people” with bombs and missiles.

“Is this a lot to ask for, to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine to save people? Is this too much to ask? A humanitarian no-fly zone, something that Ukraine—that Russia would not be able to terrorize our free cities?” Zelenskyy pleaded.

“Today, I can say I have a need. A need to protect our sky. I need your decision, your help, which means exactly the same,” he said. “The same you feel when you hear the words, I have a dream.”

He continued to explain he’s fighting for the values of America, and Europe, and the world.

A growing number of bipartisan lawmakers are now urging Biden to work on a deal with Poland to send MiG-29 planes to Ukraine to help, a plan rejected last week by the Pentagon.

The Washington Examiner reported Zelenskyy’s message left members of Congress emotional, but there remained concern about how providing a no-fly zone would be considered an escalation.

Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., said there are complexities in that decision.

“I think it’s going to move the needle in terms of the MiGs and it’s going to move the needle on the S-300s and the more sophisticated weapons — give them the damn planes,” Waltz told the Washington Examiner. “Let’s give them everything they need. He invoked 9/11, Pearl Harbor, our own revolution, and Mount Rushmore. He made a very, very powerful case that he’s not just defending Ukraine — he’s defending all of us and our values.”

But he said the no-fly zone could involve “us bombing Russia itself for their air defense systems and bombing Russian ground systems in order to be able to do that — that’s World War III.”

Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

SUPPORT TRUTHFUL JOURNALISM. MAKE A DONATION TO THE NONPROFIT WND NEWS CENTER. THANK YOU!

This article was originally published by the WND News Center.

Related Posts