Photo: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty
Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyywill give a speech to members of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday amidRussia’s ongoing waragainst his country, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced in a joint statement Monday.
Wednesday’s speech comes some two weeks after Zelenskyy, 44,joined a video callwith more than 280 U.S. lawmakers on March 5 to make an impassioned plea for support and an embargo on Russian oil — one of many meetings Zelenskyy has had with other leaders.
Since then, PresidentJoe Bidenannounced aU.S. banon “all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy” in a move he called “another powerful blow to [Russia’s] war machine.”
Zelenskyy’s goal of securing additional fighter jets, however, has not been met.
The Biden administrationrejected an offerfrom Poland last week that would have allowed the U.S. to transfer the country’s fleet of war planes to Ukraine, citing the likelihood that Russia would see it as an escalatory act.
“We do not believe Poland’s proposal is a tenable one,” the Pentagon press secretarysaid in a statementafter Poland announced its offer to provide planes in exchange for U.S.-made replacements.
The U.S. has likewise resisted the idea of enforcing a “no-fly zone” in Ukraine — which would entail possible air combat with Russia — as it could risk broadening the conflict to more countries.
Sergei SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty
Senators from both parties have asked Biden to reconsider the airpower deal.
“We urge your administration to work with Poland and our NATO allies to expedite the transfer of urgently-needed airpower, air defense systems and other combat and support capabilities from the United States, NATO allies, and other European partners to Ukraine,“Republicans wrote to the president in a letter Thursday.
Nearly 60 members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucusspoke in favor of accepting the offeragain on Sunday. “We urge assistance to help facilitate this deal, commit to replenishing our allies' fleets with American-made aircraft and help advance the transfer of [other] aircraft to Ukraine as well,” the group of Democrats and Republicans said.
Congress approved $14 billion in spending for Ukraine last week, the bulk of it allocated for the Defense Department to replenish equipment, provide humanitarian aid and to support the country’s infrastructure and information war efforts,according to NBC News.
“The Congress remains unwavering in our commitment to supporting Ukraine as they face Putin’s cruel and diabolical aggression, and to passing legislation to cripple and isolate the Russian economy as well as deliver humanitarian, security and economic assistance to Ukraine,” Pelosi and Schumer said in announcing Zelenskyy’s appearance before Congress this week.
President Zelensky.BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty
“We look forward to the privilege of welcoming President Zelenskyy’s address to the House and Senate,” they said, “and to convey our support to the people of Ukraine as they bravely defend democracy.”
Russia’sattack on Ukrainecontinues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukraine PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycalled for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.
“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,“he told the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
