Zelensky asks Americans to remember Pearl Harbor and 9/11
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the U.S. Congress virtually at the invitation of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. He received a standing ovation as he appeared on screen in front of lawmakers.
During his speech, he urged the US to remember Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 attacks as they see Ukrainians attacked and killed by Russian forces.
Ukraine’s president told lawmakers in a wartime address to Congress on Wednesday that Ukraine “goes through the same thing every day” as America did in its darkest days.
Mr. Zelensky also asked Congress to provide Soviet-made air defense systems and fighter jets as an alternative to the NATO-imposed humanitarian no-fly zone over his country’s airspace.
U.S. and NATO officials have so far rejected his requests for a no-fly zone over Ukraine because such a measure would put NATO warplanes at risk of direct collision with Russian aircraft, raising the possibility of a nuclear confrontation.
Later today, President Joe Biden is expected to announce $800m (£612m) in aid to the eastern European country, an amount that will bring total aid sent to Ukraine in the last week alone to $1bn.
Biden is also reportedly considering supplying Ukraine with US-made drones, including a newly developed so-called “loitering missile” system known as the Switchblade. Drones have played an important role in protecting Ukraine from Russian attack, in particular the TB2 drones supplied by Turkey.
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Tucker Carlson doubles down on support for Ukraine
Fox News host Tucker Carlson criticized strong support for Ukraine from U.S. civic, business and political leaders, calling it “the biggest political flash mob in American history.”
The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought Republicans and Democrats together in a rare moment of bipartisan fury directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, who motivated his invasion with false narratives.
The Fox News host was accused of repeating Russian propaganda.
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 16:30
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Pelosi: Participants touched by ‘heartbreaking footage’ of Putin’s ‘inhuman terror’
Speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi said: “Our members were very moved by his strong statements today, as well as the heartbreaking footage he shared showing Putin’s inhuman terror, brutally committing war crimes against children.”
“In order to protect people, more needs to be done for refugees. And I hope that all this can be done on a bipartisan basis.”
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 16:28
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Schumer: “Determination, unity and determination to save democracy”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted: “President Zelensky quickly and intensely brought together a room full of members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives with equal measure of determination, unity and determination to save democracy from its dark hour.”
He adds: “Congress and the American people support the people of Ukraine.”
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 16:25
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GOP can’t resist using Zelensky’s speech to attack Biden
News analysis: Republicans in the upper house have gone from bipartisan applause for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to criticizing President Biden in minutes, writes Andrew Feinberg of Washington, DC.
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 16:22
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Zelensky’s speech is a tricky balancing act
Richard Hass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, notes that President Zelenskiy’s address was a “tricky balancing act.”
He tweeted that the Ukrainian leader’s remarks were cautious: “advocating for a no-fly zone, but making it clear that he would accept a weapon that could come close to creating one. Praise [President Joe Biden] for what he has done, but also encourages him to do more. All this is backed up by a video with images of Ukraine before and after.”
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 16:20
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Cawthorne: “Emotions should never guide our foreign policy”
North Carolina Congresswoman Madison Cawthorne, who previously called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “thug,” said after the speech, “Emotions should never guide our foreign policy. The United States must be extremely careful to pursue a logical and rational foreign policy that tactfully strengthens the Ukrainian people while putting America first.”
Mr. Cawthorne was late for the speech.
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 16:15
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Lindsey Graham still wants Putin to be assassinated
Senator Lindsey Graham says he still wants Vladimir Putin to be assassinated.
The South Carolina lawmaker said, “If John McCain were here, he would say the same thing, I think. It’s time for him to go.”
He added: “I wish someone had taken out Hitler in the 1930s. So yes, Vladimir Putin is not a legitimate leader, he is a war criminal. The Russian people must deal with him… I ask the Russian people to rise up and put an end to this reign of terror.”
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 16:10
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Biden: Putin’s aggression “united the freedom-loving world”
President Joe Biden tweeted: “Bipartisan public funding bill includes $13.6 billion to address Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and impact on neighboring countries.”
He adds: “Putin’s aggression against Ukraine has united people across America, united our two parties in Congress, and united the freedom-loving world.”
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 15:59
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Tying together the patriotism of the United States and Ukraine, Zelenskiy is urgently urging Congress to implement a no-fly zone.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a moving speech to the U.S. Congress, asking President Joe Biden directly for more military assistance as the war-torn nation grapples with the Russian advance.
Members of Congress gave Mr. Zelensky a round of applause when he delivered a virtual joint address on Wednesday, about three weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Mr. Zelensky has spoken to both houses of Congress urging the United States to do more and send more weapons to Ukraine as Russia continues its war on Ukraine.
Eric Garcia is a Washington DC correspondent for The Independent.
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 15:55
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“Save them from those who shoot from the shadows”
In the opening Senate prayer following Ukrainian President Zelensky’s virtual address to Congress, Senate Chaplain Black prayed, “We believe you will liberate the Ukrainian people. Save them from those who shoot from the shadows.”
Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 15:40