The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyasked this Wednesday in a historic virtual intervention before the US Congress. air exclusion zone and more sanctions against Russia by invoking the “September 11” that their country lives “every day” with the constant bombing of Moscow.
Zelensky was greeted with a standing ovation from US lawmakers; and the president of the Congress, the Democrat Nancy Pelosi, presented him with a “Long live Ukraine” in Ukrainian.
“In the darkest moment of our country, of all of Europe, I ask you to do more. New sanctions packages are needed, constantly, every week before Russia’s military machine stops,” the Ukrainian president said.
Zelensky stressed that “right now” the “fate” of his country “is being decided”, as Russia’s “brutal” attack is “targeting the basic human values” of Ukrainians.
“Remember September 11 – he stressed – Ukraine is suffering this every day. A terror that Europe has not seen in 80 years”.
Russia began the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and began bombing major cities, causing more than three million refugees, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Millionaire aid for Ukraine
Zelensky’s intervention comes shortly after the US president, Joe Biden, signed a law on Tuesday that contemplates $13.6 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and NATO’s eastern flank countries.
The US Armed Forces have already supplied Ukraine with some 600 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and some 2,600 Javelin anti-armor projectiles, a senior White House official told Efe.
Zelensky thanked the “overwhelming support” from Washington, but asked that it go a step further and, to do so, switched from Ukrainian to English to address Biden directly in English, who was not on Capitol Hill.
“You are the leader of your great nation. I want him to be the leader of the world. Being the leader of the world means being the leader of peace”asserted the Ukrainian.
In this regard, he urged the “Ukrainian sky closure”referring to the establishment of a no-fly zone, something that both Washington and NATO have opposed as it would lead to direct conflict with Moscow.
Direct conversation between the White House and the Kremlin
Shortly after Zelensky’s intervention and when the Russian invasion of Ukraine is about to complete its third week, the White House reported a rare direct contact between Washington and Moscow.
According to a statement, Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, spoke by phone with Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev, telling him that if Moscow is serious about diplomacy, it should “stop attacking Ukrainian cities.”
Washington, which together with its European allies has imposed extraordinary economic sanctions against Moscow, has warned other countries in recent days in case they offer support to Russia, especially China, given the suffocation suffered by the Russian economy.
Likewise, the US has warned that Russia has asked Beijing for military support and economic assistance, including drones, for the invasion of Ukraine, which China has denied.
This Monday, the State Department stressed that there will be “consequences” for China if it offers help to Russia and pointed out that Beijing “can do more than any other country” to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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