Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned US lawmakers they might never see him alive again as he pleaded with the US for his country’s continued support in the war against Russia during a Zoom call on Saturday.
The grim warning was the sharpest and most direct call to action between the leadership contender and US lawmakers, according to Politico. Zelenskiy also called on a group of more than 300 U.S. senators and House representatives to provide Soviet-era aircraft that his military can fly and impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which the U.S. government has opposed.
Zelenskiy also warned lawmakers that the war could engulf all of Europe if it went nuclear, citing a dozen nuclear plants in Ukraine and battles over the Chernobyl and Zaporozhye nuclear power plants.
“This will become a problem for Europe,” he warned lawmakers through translators, according to Politico.
Two U.S. Senators – Sep. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Steve Danes (R-MT) – came under fire after sharing screenshots of a Zoom call, ignoring Zelenskiy’s warning not to do so to protect their safety. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) criticized both for their “appalling and reckless ignorance”.
Zelenskiy’s meeting came hours after Ukraine temporarily halted civilian evacuations in the key southeastern port city of Mariupol, saying Russia had violated a ceasefire agreed hours earlier.
“The Russian side does not observe the ceasefire and continues to shell Mariupol itself and its environs,” said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the presidential office of Ukraine, according to the Associated Press. “Negotiations with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding the establishment of a ceasefire and the provision of a safe humanitarian corridor.”
The evacuation of more than 200,000 Ukrainians is now in limbo as Deputy Mayor of Mariupol Serhiy Orlov told the BBC that the ceasefire has been completely broken.
“The Russians keep bombing us and using artillery. This is crazy,” Orlov said. “There is no ceasefire in Mariupol and there is no ceasefire along the entire route. Our civilians are ready to flee, but they cannot escape under fire.”
A Ukrainian soldier and policeman help a fleeing family cross the Irpen River on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine.
AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti
The Russian Defense Ministry said that no one took advantage of two humanitarian corridors created near the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, and accused Ukrainian “nationalists” of preventing the departure of civilians, RIA Novosti reports. However, the British Ministry of Defence said on Saturday that the Russians may have used the ceasefire – and its subsequent violation – to shift the blame to the Ukrainians for future civilian casualties.
The International Committee of the Red Cross called the scenes in Mariupol “heartbreaking”.
“We understand that safe crossing operations from Mariupol and Volnovakha will not start today.” The Red Cross said it was “ready to help facilitate the safe passage of civilians once the parties reach an agreement.”
Doctors Without Borders staff said on Saturday that the situation in Mariupol was “difficult.”
“This night the shelling was stronger and closer. Yesterday we collected snow and rain water to get utility water. We tried to get free water today but the queue was huge. We also wanted to get “social” bread, but the schedule and places of distribution are not clear. According to people, several grocery stores were destroyed by rockets, and the remaining things were taken by people who were in desperate need. Until now, there is no electricity, water, heating and mobile communications. So far no one has heard of the evacuation. There are no medicines in pharmacies,” the organization said in a statement.
A Ukrainian soldier holds a child in his arms as he crosses the Irpen River on a makeshift path under a bridge destroyed by a Russian airstrike.
AP Photo/Vadim Girda
It says people are now effectively trapped in Mariupol, where the attacks began so suddenly that many were unable to escape.