WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke Saturday to more than 300 members of Congress, pleading with them to ban Russian oil imports and send more planes to his country, deputies said in a phone call.
Meeting, conducted via ZoomIt was the first time Mr. Zelensky has addressed both houses of Congress since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
During the call, Mr. Zelenskiy also repeated one of his long-awaited demands: a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Western governments have dismissed the idea as almost impossible, citing the risk of direct conflict between NATO forces and Russia.
“He stands his ground but begged for more help,” Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat, said of Mr. Zelensky. “Aircraft, oil embargo, constant military aid.”
According to Alaska Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, Mr. Zelensky told lawmakers that a ban on Russian oil would be “even more effective” than removing some Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system. Last week, Republicans and Democrats stepped up pressure on the White House to ban Russian energy imports, though experts say such a move would be largely symbolic.
The lawmakers are also urging the administration to send more military equipment to arm Ukrainians, even after Mr. Biden authorized $350 million worth of weapons into the country over the weekend, the largest single authorized shipment of arms from U.S. military depots to another country. . On Saturday, Mr. Zelensky stressed the need for additional aircraft and drones due to the absence of a NATO-led no-fly zone, lawmakers who took part in the call said.
His call came after Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia said they would not send fighter jets to Ukraine.
“Zelensky’s message is simple: Close the skies or give us planes,” Nebraska Republican Sen. Ben Sass said in a statement after the meeting. “Let’s clear our options: a no-fly zone means sending American pilots into combat against Russian aircraft and air defenses – in a battle between nuclear powers that could quickly spiral out of control.”
Mr. Sasse added that the US “should definitely send planes, helicopters and UAVs” or unmanned aerial vehicles to Ukrainians.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and Majority Leader, also promised Mr. Zelensky during a phone call that he and Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and Minority Leader, were “working very hard in a bipartisan manner” to quickly approve A $10 billion aid package to Ukraine requested by the Biden administration last week.
“President Zelensky has issued a desperate appeal to the countries of Eastern Europe to provide Ukraine with Russian-made aircraft,” Schumer said in a statement. “These planes are very necessary. And I will do my best to help the administration facilitate their transfer.”