Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a passionate appeal directly to U.S. lawmakers in a Zoom call Saturday morning, calling for military aircraft and support, and a embargo on Russian oil, according to a member of Congress who was on the call. .
Zelensky told lawmakers that Ukraine needs planes because its air force was destroyed on the first day of the Russian invasion, according to another source who was on the call. And he called for an oil embargo on Russia, which he said would be the most important factor for Ukraine. Zelensky told lawmakers that if there had been sanctions in September or October, there would have been no invasion.
through the tweet of Senator Marco Rubio
The urgency of Zelensky’s requests was clear from the start: he opened with a comment along the lines of “this could be the last time you see me alive.” He warned them that after Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not stop. Poland and Lithuania, both NATO members, will be next. He called on the United States to send planes and troops there now to prepare for and release aircraft in excess of the Warsaw Pact (MIG and Sukohvs) from Poland and other countries. A source familiar with the call said the issue of an air exclusion zone arose.
Congressman Mike Quigley, chairman of the Ukrainian House caucus, told CBS News after the call that Zelensky had stressed that the battle in the air is crucial and affects everything that is happening on the ground. “Either close the skies or give us the planes one way or another because … the battle is often won in the air,” Quigley said, summing up Zelensky’s message to Congress.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a statement after the call, noted Zelensky’s request for Russian-made aircraft and said he would do “everything he can to help the administration facilitate.” in the transfer “.
Zelensky also asked lawmakers for more lethal help, according to one source in the call, and called on the U.S. to cut Russia’s Visa and Mastercard.
The Ukrainian president was warmly received by both Democrats and Republicans, according to Quigley.
“When everyone turned on their microphones … there was extraordinary, universal, strong, bipartisan and bicameral support,” he said, adding: “This was historic, true: the leader of a free sovereign country. and a Democrat who spoke live from his capital when under siege and with the awareness that an autocratic despot has made him the target of death. ” Quigley marveled at “how calm he was, how brave he is” and said he hoped this would be “motivating” enough to get more Ukrainian help quickly.
More than 280 members of the Senate and House joined Zoom, according to one lawmaker. The Ukrainian president told senators and members of the House that he is grateful for the strong sanctions and the unified response of the West. After speaking for about 30 minutes, the Ukrainian president answered questions from lawmakers.
Zelensky thanked the United States for severe sanctions, which he said Russian business leaders have recovered from the impact. He also spoke about the Russian soldiers that Ukraine has captured, and told lawmakers that soldiers are often unaware of the real conditions in Ukraine and have no idea they are fighting in a war of hostility.
He spoke of Ukraine’s strong relationship with Poland and said that humanitarian and military assistance flowed into Ukraine with ease.
A source in the call said Schumer told Zelensky that “we are inspired by you and the strength and courage of the Ukrainian people.” Schumer also said in a statement that he and minority leader Mitch McConnell and others “are working hard in a bipartisan way to quickly get all the help the administration has asked for for the Ukrainian people”: more than 10 billion dollars in economic, humanitarian and security funds.
Alan I contributed to this report.
Add Comment