Zelenskiy is expected to call on the US to help establish a no-fly zone in Ukraine — to protect civilians — and provide fighter jets Ukrainians can use in self-defense.
The two conflicting options are dividing lawmakers: Republicans are more hawkish about handing over planes to Ukraine, but some Democrats — and the White House — fear that Russia could see such a move as an escalation and potentially drag America into war.
MPs from both parties say they are currently wary of the no-fly zone because they think it could lead to a direct confrontation between the US and Russia in the skies over Ukraine.
While aid to Ukraine is broadly bipartisan, many lawmakers also believe the US should be careful not to be embroiled in any direct armed conflict with Russia.
President Joe Biden plans to detail US aid to Ukraine in a speech later Wednesday.
In recent weeks, the US and its allies have taken a wide range of actions to punish Moscow for its invasion, including tough sanctions and export controls, as well as a $350 million security aid package. In addition, Congress recently passed a $13.6 billion emergency package to provide defense, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine, and over the weekend the Biden administration announced a $200 million aid package.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the virtual address in a letter to lawmakers earlier this week. The speech will be broadcast live and live, Pelosi’s office told CNN.
“I hope he recognizes what we did but then calls on us to do what he thinks is necessary to ultimately get the Ukrainians to win,” Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, told reporters. when asked what he expects from a virtual address.
“He is the president of his country, he will make the maximalists ask on behalf of their people, this should be understood, but it should always be aligned with what is in the national interest and security of the United States,” Menendez said when asked about Zelensky’s requests, such as a no-fly zone.
“I do think it’s important for Ukraine to prevail in the national interest of the United States, but I don’t think a no-fly zone or direct confrontation is what’s needed for that,” Menendez said.
Some lawmakers in Congress are pushing to add provisions to provide Ukraine with fighter jets in legislation regarding energy imports and Russia’s trade status, but it’s not yet clear what the fate of those efforts will be.
Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said Monday there is broad bipartisan support for legislation against energy imports and Russia’s trade status to punish the country for invading Ukraine. But, he said, members may want to add other provisions, such as approving the sending of fighter jets to Ukraine from NATO countries such as Poland, which could make it difficult to pass the law quickly.
The Biden administration recently rejected a Polish offer to send fighter jets to Ukraine via the US, arguing that it could escalate as the US and NATO seek to avoid a direct conflict between the alliance and Russia.
“I know the administration has its own stance on this, but both parties will support jets,” Thune told reporters at the Capitol.
“Tomorrow we will hear from Zelensky again and I am sure he will ask for an increase in the level of assistance we are providing, including MiGs,” Tun said on Tuesday, referring to the MiG fighter. jets. “It must be an effort by all hands on deck to give them everything they need to fight their own battles. There are things that I think they have not yet received that they could help, lethal help that would help them at least try to continue to fight and block the Russians from accessing many of their major cities, ”he said.
“Tomorrow’s speech should continue to raise this issue in a way that I think puts additional pressure not only on the administration, but on both political parties in Congress to do what they can to help Ukrainians,” Thune added.
But White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday that despite Zelensky’s pleas, the White House does not support a no-fly zone over Ukraine or the supply of new fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force.
“I would point out that [the Pentagon] said adding aircraft to Ukrainian inventory is unlikely to materially change the effectiveness of the Ukrainian Air Force compared to Russia’s capabilities, Psaki said during a briefing on Tuesday. as we said, escalation, and could lead to a serious reaction from Russia, but this is a risk assessment that has been made. This risk assessment has not changed.”
Regarding the no-fly zone, Psaki said Biden “should look at the decisions that are being made through the lens of our national security interests and global security interests, and he still believes that the no-fly zone will escalate, could provoke a war with Russia.”
CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Jeremy Herb, Donald Judd and Keith Sullivan contributed to this report.