“Today the Ukrainian people … are fighting for the values of Europe and the world,” the 44-year-old lawmaker said, citing tragedies in American history in his appeal for more help against Russia.
“We need you right now,” Zelenskyy — wearing a green military-style shirt, which has become a trademark of his since the war started — said. “Remember Pearl Harbor, [the] terrible morning of December 1941 when your sky was black from the planes attacking you. Just remember. Remember Sept. 11 — a terrible day in 2001 when people tried to turn your cities … into battlefields. When innocent people were attacked.”
He continued: “Every night for three weeks now … Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, Zelenskyy urged other countries to do more when it comes to punishing Russia, which has so far been met with a number of crippling economic sanctions.
Zelenskyy addresses U.S. Congress.Drew Angerer/Getty
“Peace is more important than income,” he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Guillaume Herbaut/Agence VU/Re
The footage ended with a renewed plea to “close the sky over Ukraine” andinstitute a no-fly zone— a move that NATO and the U.S. have resisted as it would involve direct combat with Russian forces and could risk broadening the conflict to more countries.
In closing his speech on Wednesday, Zelenskyy addressed PresidentJoe Bidendirectly, calling on him to be “the leader of the world.”
“Peace in your country doesn’t depend any more only on you and your people. It depends on those next to you and those who are strong,” Zelenskyy said.
He continued: “Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace. Thank you. Glory to Ukraine.”
The speech was met with a standing ovation from lawmakers,just as Zelenskyy’s other addresseshave been. The actor-turned-president has repeatedly spoken with other leaders since his country was invaded on Feb. 24, seeking aid from the rest of the world.
People remove personal belongings from a burning house after being shelled in the city of Irpin, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 4.ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty
Russia’sattack on Ukraineis the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Zelenskyy has in the past few weeks called for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while also urging his country to fight back.
Putin insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy vowed not to bend.
“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,“he told the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
