By LISA MASCARO and AAMER MADHANI
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy summoned reminiscences of Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11 terror assaults Wednesday in an impassioned live-video plea to Congress to ship extra assist for Ukraine’s battle towards Russia. Lawmakers stood and cheered, and President Joe Biden later introduced the U.S. is sending extra anti-aircraft, anti-armor weapons and drones.
Biden additionally declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a battle prison — his strongest condemnation but — the day after the Senate unanimously requested for worldwide investigations of Putin for battle crimes in Ukraine.
In a second of excessive drama on the Capitol, Zelenskyy livestreamed his speech to a rapt viewers of lawmakers on an enormous display screen, acknowledging from the beginning that the no-fly zone he has repeatedly sought to “shut the sky” to airstrikes on his nation might not occur. Biden has resisted that, in addition to approval for the U.S. or NATO to ship MiG fighter jets from Poland as risking wider battle with nuclear-armed Putin.
As an alternative, Zelenskyy pleaded for different navy help and extra drastic financial sanctions to cease the Russian assault with the destiny of his nation at stake.
Carrying his now-trademark military inexperienced T-shirt, Zelinskyy started his remarks to “People, buddies” by invoking the destruction the U.S. suffered in 1941 when Japan bombed the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and the 2001 assaults on the World Commerce Heart and the Pentagon by militants who commandeered passenger airplanes to crash into the symbols of Western democracy and economic system.
“Bear in mind Pearl Harbor? … Bear in mind September 11?” Zelenskyy requested. “Our nation experiences the identical on daily basis proper now.”
To finish the invasion, Zelenskyy informed the American lawmakers: “I name on you to do extra.”
Nearing the three-week mark in an ever-escalating battle, Zelenskyy has used the worldwide stage to implore allied leaders to assist cease the Russian invasion of his nation. The younger actor-turned-president has emerged as a heroic determine on the heart of what many view as the largest safety menace to Europe since World Battle II. Nearly 3 million refugees have fled Ukraine because the violence has unfold, the quickest exodus in fashionable occasions.
Biden, who stated he listened to Zelenskyy’s speech on the White Home, didn’t instantly reply to the the criticism that the U.S. must be doing extra for the Ukrainians. However he stated, “We’re united in our abhorrence of Putin’s wicked onslaught, and we’re going to proceed to have their backs as they battle for his or her freedom, their democracy, their very survival.”
Later, leaving an unrelated occasion, he declared of Putin: “He’s a battle prison.” — the sharpest condemnation but of Putin and Russian actions by a U.S. official for the reason that invasion of Ukraine.
Biden famous that Russia has bombed hospitals and held docs hostage.
On the White Home, Biden described new assist he had already been ready to announce. He stated the U.S. will likely be sending a further $800 million in navy help, making a complete of $2 billion in such help since he took workplace greater than a yr in the past. About $1 billion in help has been despatched previously week. Biden stated the brand new help consists of 800 Stinger anti-aircraft programs, 100 grenade launchers, 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launchers and mortar rounds and an unspecified variety of drones.
“We’re going to provide Ukraine the arms to battle and defend themselves by means of all of the tough days forward,” Biden stated.
Zelenskyy, talking from the capital of Kyiv, confirmed the packed auditorium of lawmakers a graphic video of the destruction and devastation his nation has suffered within the battle, together with heartbreaking scenes of civilian casualties.
“We’d like you proper now,” he stated.
Lawmakers gave him a standing ovation, earlier than and after his quick remarks, which Zelenskyy started in Ukrainian by means of an interpreter however then switched to English in a heartfelt attraction to assist finish the bloodshed.
“I see no sense in life if it can not cease the deaths,” he stated.
Among the many new navy {hardware} that Biden accepted are 100 Switchblade 300 missile system drones that Zelenskyy had been looking for, in line with a U.S. official aware of the choice. The official was not licensed to remark publicly by identify in regards to the delicate matter and spoke on the situation of anonymity.
Lawmakers, with uncommon unity, appeared moved by the speech. Sen. Angus King, the Maine impartial. stated there was a “collective holding of the breath” within the room throughout Zelenskyy’s handle. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska stated, “In case you didn’t have a look at that video and really feel there’s an obligation for not solely the USA however the free international locations of the world to come back collectively in help of Ukraine, you had your eyes closed.” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin referred to as the handle heartbreaking and stated, “I’m on board with a clean examine on sanctions, simply no matter we will do to cease this Russian advance.”
Exterior the Capitol demonstrators held a big signal lawmakers noticed as they walked again to their places of work. “No Fly Zone=World Battle 3.”
The Ukrainian president isn’t any stranger to Congress, having performed a central function in Donald Trump’s first impeachment. As president, Trump was accused of withholding safety help to Ukraine as he pressured Zelenskyy to dig up filth on political rival Biden. Zelenskyy spoke Wednesday to most of the similar Republican lawmakers who declined to question or convict Trump, however are among the many bipartisan groundswell in Congress now clamoring for navy help to Ukraine.
He thanked the American folks for the outpouring of help, whilst he urged Biden to do extra.
“You’re the chief of the nation. I want you to be the chief of the world,” he stated “Being the chief of the world means being the chief of peace.”
This was Zelenskyy’s newest go to as he makes use of the West’s nice legislative our bodies in his appeals for assist. He invoked Shakespeare’s Hamlet final week on the British Home of Commons, asking whether or not Ukraine is “to be or to not be” and telling Congress that folks in his nation need the identical as People: “Democracy, independence, freedom.”
He typically pushes for extra assist to save lots of his younger democracy than world leaders have up to now pledged to offer.
Biden has insisted there will likely be no U.S. troops on the bottom in Ukraine.
“Direct battle between NATO and Russia is World Battle III,” he has stated.
Zelenskyy appeared to acknowledge the political actuality past sure limits.
“Is that this an excessive amount of to ask, to create a no fly zone over Ukraine?” he requested, answering his personal query. “If that is an excessive amount of to ask, we provide another,” he stated, calling for weapons programs that may assist battle Russian plane.
Congress has already accepted $13.6 billion in navy and humanitarian help for Ukraine, and the newly introduced safety help will come from that allotment, which is a part of a broader invoice that Biden signed into legislation Tuesday.
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Related Press writers Zeke Miller, Mary Clare Jalonick,Ellen Knickmeyer, Farnoush Amiri, Kevin Freking, Alan Fram, Nomaan Service provider and Chris Megerian and Raf Casert in Brussels, Jill Lawless in London, Aritz Parra in Madrid and videojournalist Rick Gentilo contributed to this report.
