In Address to Congress, Zelenskyy Urges President to be ‘Leader of Peace’

WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy made an emotional and historic direct appeal to Congress Wednesday morning, asking for help protecting Ukrainian airspace and for stronger sanctions to beat back Russia’s unprovoked invasion of his country.

Dressed in his now trademark green army t-shirt, Zelenskyy appeared before members of the House and Senate on a large screen in an theater-style auditorium beneath the U.S. Capitol visitor center.

During remarks translated from Ukrainian, Zelenskyy likened the ongoing Russian invasion to both Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and pleaded with congressional lawmakers for support and more military assistance.

At the center of his address was a heart-rending video of the destruction and injuries his country and its citizens have suffered over the past three weeks of war.

“We need you right now,” Zelenskyy said, adding, “I call on you to do more.”

Though Zelenskyy requested the creation of a no-fly zone to “close the sky” over his country or, as an alternative, the provision of additional planes so Ukraine could better fight an air war itself, he also appeared to acknowledge that both are currently not on the table in the U.S.

President Joe Biden and the United States’ European allies have stopped short of providing a no-fly zone or the transfer of military jets from neighboring Poland in order to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia and a wider war.

As an additional alternative he called on Congress to impose more sanctions on Russian lawmakers and to completely block imports from Russia into this country.

“Peace is more important than income,” he said.

Zelenskyy thanked the American people for their outpouring of support in the face of Russian aggression, and Biden in particular, even as he continued to press the Biden administration to do more.

“You are the leader of the nation. I wish you to be the leader of the world,” he said “Being the leader of the world means being the leader of peace.”

Lawmakers gave him a standing ovation before and after his short remarks, but after the speech many reiterated their contention that the more the U.S. gets involved in the Ukraine crisis the more likely it would be that the nation would find itself in a direct military conflict with Russia.

About 90 minutes after Zelenskyy spoke, Biden announced the U.S. will provide Ukraine with about $800 million in additional military aid.

The U.S. has already sent Ukraine more than 600 Stinger missiles, 2,600 Javelin anti-armor systems, unmanned aerial system tracking radars, grenade launchers, 200 shotguns, 200 machine guns and nearly 40 million rounds of small arms ammunition, along with helicopters, patrol boats, body armor and helmets, an administration official said before Biden’s remarks.

Congress has already approved $13.6 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and the newly announced security aid will come from that allotment, which is part of a broader bill Biden signed into law Tuesday. 

Among those who described himself as “incredibly moved” by Zelensky’s words Wednesday morning was Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

“As President Zelenskyy noted, the U.S. has already taken unprecedented steps to rally the world to isolate Russia economically and to support Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself,” Warner said.

“We should heed Zelensky’s call for additional defensive aid including anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft missiles and for new sanctions on those responsible for supporting the Russian government’s barbaric invasion of a peaceful and sovereign neighbor.”

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., responded to Zelenskyy’s address by saying he believes there’s bipartisan support for sending Ukraine “the MIGs and the armaments they need to continue to fight a war they did not create.”

“I think the video was one of the most moving moments of the whole presentation,” McCarthy said. “It made the case that Russian forces are indeed murdering innocent people. War crimes are being committed. America and the world cannot sit by anymore. We need to put a stop to this.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters during a pen and pad session Wednesday that there are “days when you serve in the Congress that you will look back on as an historic day.”

“This is one of those days,” he said.

“Gathered in a packed Visitor Center auditorium, members of the House and Senate heard from the leader of a free country fighting against an adversary who is committing war crimes, murdering innocent non-combatants and destroying cities and towns, creating close to 3 million refugees.

“I was deeply moved by President Zelenskyy’s remarks this morning and I know we are united in our support for Ukraine, in our support for democracy and freedom of the Ukrainian people, and in our opposition to this unprovoked criminal war started by Russian President Vladimir Putin.”

In the wake of Zelenskyy’s remarks, House leaders were trying to get a Russian trade bill finalized for a floor vote later Wednesday, with a notice going out that “Members are advised that consideration of legislation related to Russia’s trade status is possible today.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue.