Ukraine President Zelenskyy invokes Pearl Harbor, Sept. 11 in asking U.S. Congress to help fight Russia invasion

Zelenskyy acknowledged that Western leaders have resisted the idea of a no-fly zone, which would require NATO to take over the air and shoot down enemies to protect civilians on the ground. It’s been repeatedly rejected out of fears of triggering another world war.

“If this is too much to ask, we offer an alternative,” he said.

That included additional weapons and humanitarian support beyond what has already been granted to Ukraine, as well as even tougher sanctions on Russia and leading Russian supporters of that country’s president, Vladimir Putin, he said.

“Constantly, every week, until the Russian military machine stops, restrictions are needed for everyone on whom this unjust regime is based,” Zelenskyy said, referring to additional sanctions.

He also urged members of Congress to get companies in their legislative districts to leave the Russian market, “because it is flooded with our blood.”

“I call on you to do more,” he said.

Referring to President Joe Biden by name, Zelenskyy said he wanted his American counterpart to lead the world, not just the U.S., in the face of Russian aggression.

“Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace,” Zelenskyy said.

Biden is expected to announce hundreds of millions of dollars in additional aid to Ukraine later Wednesday.

Zelenskyy was introduced for his address by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

“Glory to heroes,” Pelosi said in Ukrainian before he began speaking.

Zelenskyy began by saying, “I’m proud to greet you from Ukraine from our capital city … that is under missile and airstrikes from Russian troops every day, but it doesn’t give up.”

“And we have not even thought about it for a second. Just like many other cities, and communities in our beautiful country, which found themselves in the worst war since World War II,” he said.

Zelenskyy soon returned to that linkage with World War II after noting what he called America’s foundational tenets of “democracy, independence, freedom and care for everyone.”

“We in Ukraine want the same for our people,” he said. “All that is normal part of your own life.”

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/16/ukraine-president-zelenskyy-makes-speech-to-congress-on-russia-war.html