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Zelensky’s speech today: Biden called Putin a “war criminal” after the Ukrainian leader’s disturbing speech to Congress

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 to avoid the risk of direct collision between allied aircraft and Russian aircraft, raising the possibility of a nuclear confrontation.

President Joe Biden responded to Zelenskiy’s remarks by announcing $800m (£612m) in new aid, bringing total aid sent to Ukraine in the last week alone to $1bn.

This new support includes 800 anti-aircraft systems; 9000 anti-tank systems; 7,000 machine guns, shotguns and grenade launchers with 20 million rounds of ammunition; and 100 drones.

Later, Mr. Biden called Mr. Putin a “war criminal” for the first time. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said he “speaks from the heart.”

Key points so far

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US ‘monitoring very closely’ whether Russia ‘deliberately’ targets journalists

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US is “very closely monitoring” whether Russia is “deliberately” targeting journalists covering the war in Ukraine after Kremlin forces have killed at least three and wounded several more in the past few days. alone.

Mr. Blinken told NPR in an interview broadcast Wednesday that US officials are “documenting” Russian attacks and that if they find that Vladimir Putin’s troops are deliberately targeting journalists, it would be considered a “war crime.”

“We are monitoring the actions of Russian forces very closely, including deliberate and premeditated attacks on civilians, journalists or anyone else,” he said.

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 21:30

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Zelensky urgently calls for the introduction of a no-fly zone

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a moving speech to the US Congress, turning directly to President Joe Biden for more military assistance as the war-torn nation battles a bloody Russian offensive.

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 21:10

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Biden Sees Rare GOP Support After Zelenskiy Speech

The Republican establishment in Washington is lukewarm about President Joe Biden’s reaction to the Russian invasion, while some on the far right are questioning whether to support Ukraine at all.

After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a historic virtual address to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday from his safe haven in Kyiv, GOP lawmakers barely criticized the incoming leader’s American counterpart — a rare respite from the uncompromising opposition that Republican leaders have shown to Bely home for months.

John Bowden received the latest news from Washington DC.

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 21:00

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GOP can’t resist using Zelensky’s speech to attack Biden

News analysis: Republicans in the upper house went from bipartisan applause for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to criticism of President Biden in minutes.

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 20:50

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“Our country is experiencing the same thing every day”

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Americans to remember Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 attacks as they watched Russian troops attack and kill Ukrainians.

Ukraine’s president told lawmakers in an impassioned wartime address to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday that Ukraine “experiences the same thing every day” as America did in its darkest days.

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 20:40

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Zelensky showed Congress a heartbreaking video of the destruction of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked the US Congress to support NATO’s establishment of a humanitarian no-fly zone over his country, showing a heartbreaking video of scenes of a Russian attack on his country.

The video, titled “Close the Sky,” was shown during Zelenskiy’s speech at a special joint session of the House and Senate on Wednesday.

Report by Megan Sheets and Rachel Sharp.

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 20:30

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The Pentagon supplies bulletproof vests and helmets

The Ministry of Defense provides support to Ukraine by sending body armor and helmets. The Pentagon released a photo of equipment being handled by the 436th Air Port Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 20:20

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The Kremlin called Biden’s comments “unacceptable and inexcusable”

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 20:14

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Biden called Putin a “war criminal” for invading Ukraine

President Joe Biden told reporters in the East Room of the White House that he considers Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal for his invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Biden was caught on video answering a question from Fox News journalist Jacqui Heinrich about whether the Russian president was a war criminal. Mr. Biden initially said “no,” before he returned, clarified his response to Ms. Heinrich, and then said “he’s a war criminal.”

Eric Garcia reports from Washington, DC.

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 20:05

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Warning to “traitors”: Putin accuses the West of seeking to destroy Russia

Vladimir Putin accused the West of trying to “disrupt” and “dismember” Russia and issued a warning to those in his country whom he called traitors.

Addressing government ministers nearly three weeks after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Russian president said that Moscow was planning a “special military operation” and that his country was ready to discuss Ukraine’s neutral status.

Then Putin once again lashed out at the Western powers, saying they want to turn Russia into a “weak dependent country; violate its territorial integrity; dismember Russia in the way that suits them.”

Oliver O’Connell16 March 2022 19:50