WASHINGTON -- In a wartime address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged lawmakers and all Americans to continue supporting his country with military and financial aid as it fights for its existence against a revanchist Russia, warning that anything short of victory would threaten the free world, including the United States.
During his 22-minute speech from the podium of the House of Representatives on December 21, Zelenskiy stressed that Ukraine can win the war against a better-armed Russian Army, but said U.S. military and financial aid was "crucial" to achieving final victory.
As he asked for more aid, Zelenskiy sought to hammer home to the American people that a war being fought thousands of miles away in towns they never heard of concerned them directly. He stressed that global freedom and democracy as well as U.S. security were at stake in Ukraine and compared war with Russia to the U.S. War of Independence.
Ukraine's defense "is not only for life, freedom, and the security of Ukrainians. It will define whether [there] will be democracy for Ukrainians and for Americans," Zelenskiy, dressed in his signature, military-style olive-green sweater and trousers, said in English.
The war "cannot be frozen or postponed, it cannot be ignored, hoping that the ocean or something else will provide protection."
Zelenskiy returned to Ukraine on December 22, his spokesman told AFP. Serhiy Nykyforov also confirmed that Zelenskiy had made a brief stop in Poland to meet with President Andrzej Duda.
Zelenskiy thanked Duda for the strong support of Ukrainians shown by the people of Poland. The office of the president said the two leaders discussed strategic plans for the future, bilateral relations, and cooperation at the international level in the coming year.
Zelenskiy's trip to the United States came as Congress prepared to vote on a sweeping spending bill that includes a provision to allocate an estimated $45 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine.
The Senate on December 22 passed the massive $1.7 trillion spending bill, which includes about $772.5 billion for domestic programs and $858 billion for defense. The bill passed by a vote of 68-29 and now goes to the House of Representatives for a final vote before it can be sent to Biden to be signed into law.
While the bill is expected to pass, U.S. support for Ukraine has waned as the 10-month war drags on and as Americans feel the pinch from high inflation.
said. He is “also looking for those points of commonality” between the two countries.
Giuliano said that it was wise of Zelenskiy to highlight Iran’s support for Russia because many Americans readily identify Tehran as a “bad” and “aggressive” actor that the United States needs to “stand up to.” .
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hold an inscribed Ukrainian flag brought by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from the frontline city of Bakhmut at a joint session of the U.S. Congress on December 21.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hold an inscribed Ukrainian flag brought by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from the frontline city of Bakhmut at a joint session of the U.S. Congress on December 21.
Zelenskiy had arrived in the U.S. capital earlier in the day on his first trip abroad since the start of Russia's invasion 10 months ago.
He held a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss aid and the course of the war before holding talks with Congressional leaders from both parties.
Biden announced a new $1.85 billion security assistance package for Ukraine that includes a Patriot air defense battery.
Ukrainian leaders have pleaded for the Patriots to be provided, and Zelenskiy said during a news conference with Biden that he would likely ask for more. Ukraine needs them to prevent the destruction of the country's civilian infrastructure, including loss of electricity and heat in the cold winter months
