Zelensky appeals to US for continued aid, invokes World War 2 heroics
The Ukrainian president tells Congress that aid to his country is an investment in democracy and “not charity”
22 December 2022 - 08:09
by Steve Holland and Pavel Polityuk
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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Picture: UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/REUTERS
Washington/Kyiv — President Volodymyr Zelensky told the US Congress that aid to Ukraine was an investment in democracy and “not charity” as he invoked American battles against the Nazis in World War 2 to press for more assistance for his country’s war effort.
Zelensky’s comments on Wednesday come as Republicans — some of whom have voiced increasing scepticism about sending so much aid to Ukraine — are set to take control of the US House of Representatives from Democrats on January 3.
Some hardline Republicans have even urged an end to aid and an audit to trace how allocated money has been spent.
“Your money is not charity. It is an investment in ... global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way,” Zelensky told a joint session of the US Senate and House of Representatives, speaking in English.
The world is too interconnected to allow any country to stand aside and feel safe, Zelensky said as he appealed for bipartisan support.
Earlier, Zelensky, wearing his trademark olive-green trousers and sweater on his first foreign wartime visit, met President Joe Biden, who called for support to keep flowing in 2023.
The US also announced another $1.85bn in military aid for Ukraine, including a Patriot air-defence system to help it ward off barrages of Russian missiles.
Just like the brave American soldiers, [who] held their lines and fought back Hitler’s forces during the Christmas of 1944, brave Ukrainian soldiers are doing the same to Putin’s forces this Christmas.
Zelensky said the Patriot system was an important step in creating an air shield.
“This is the only way that we can deprive the terrorist state of its main instrument of terror — the possibility to hit our cities, our energy,” Zelensky told a White House news conference, standing next to Biden.
“We would like to get more Patriots ... we are in war,” Zelensky told reporters at the White House.
Russia says it launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine in February to rid it of nationalists and protect Russian-speaking communities. Ukraine and the West describe Russia’s actions as an unprovoked war of aggression.
Ukraine has come under repeated Russian strikes targeting its energy infrastructure in recent weeks, leaving millions without power or running water in the dead of a freezing winter.
TASS news agency cited Russia’s US ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, as saying that Zelensky’s visit confirmed that US statements about not wanting a conflict with Russia were empty words.
America’s provocative actions in Ukraine were leading to an escalation the consequences of which were impossible to imagine, TASS cited Antonov as saying.
Russia said last week, Patriot systems, if delivered to Ukraine, would be a legitimate target for Russian strikes.
Invokes World War 2
Zelensky joined a long list of world leaders to address joint meetings of the US Senate and House, a tradition that began in 1874 with a visit by Hawaiian King Kalakaua and included almost legendary wartime visits by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, kings, queens and one pope.
House members and senators from both parties leapt to their feet to cheer parts of Zelensky’s speech as he likened his country’s battle to World War 2 and even the American Revolution.
Referencing former US President Franklin D Roosevelt, who served between 1933 and 1945, and efforts to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation, Zelensky appealed to Americans as they gathered with family for Christmas.
“Just like the brave American soldiers, [who] held their lines and fought back Hitler’s forces during the Christmas of 1944, brave Ukrainian soldiers are doing the same to Putin’s forces this Christmas,” he said.
Congress is on the verge of approving an additional $44.9bn in emergency military and economic assistance, on top of some $50bn already sent to Ukraine this year as Europe’s biggest land conflict since World War 2 drags on.
White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby said Washington was seeing no sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin was willing to engage in peacemaking.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said more Western arms supplies to Ukraine would lead to a “deepening” of the conflict.
Zelensky said a “just peace” with Russia meant no compromises on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Bakhmut
Russian forces attacked targets in the Zaporizhzhia region and pushed to advance near the battered eastern front-line towns of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, the focal point of fighting in the Donetsk region, Ukraine’s military said on Wednesday evening.
The commander of Ukraine’s “Freedom” battalion, Petro Kuzyk, helping to defend Bakhmut, told the website of Espreso TV: “Each day, there are anywhere from seven to 10 attempts to storm our positions. And it’s the same at night.
“They won’t be able to take Bakhmut, but if they take the heights above it and set up their artillery and cut our logistical arteries, that will make the situation much more difficult,” Kuzyk said.
Putin has promised to give his military whatever it needs to prosecute the war nearing the end of its 10th month and backed a plan to boost the size of the armed forces by more than 30%.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Zelensky appeals to US for continued aid, invokes World War 2 heroics
The Ukrainian president tells Congress that aid to his country is an investment in democracy and “not charity”
Washington/Kyiv — President Volodymyr Zelensky told the US Congress that aid to Ukraine was an investment in democracy and “not charity” as he invoked American battles against the Nazis in World War 2 to press for more assistance for his country’s war effort.
Zelensky’s comments on Wednesday come as Republicans — some of whom have voiced increasing scepticism about sending so much aid to Ukraine — are set to take control of the US House of Representatives from Democrats on January 3.
Some hardline Republicans have even urged an end to aid and an audit to trace how allocated money has been spent.
“Your money is not charity. It is an investment in ... global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way,” Zelensky told a joint session of the US Senate and House of Representatives, speaking in English.
The world is too interconnected to allow any country to stand aside and feel safe, Zelensky said as he appealed for bipartisan support.
Earlier, Zelensky, wearing his trademark olive-green trousers and sweater on his first foreign wartime visit, met President Joe Biden, who called for support to keep flowing in 2023.
The US also announced another $1.85bn in military aid for Ukraine, including a Patriot air-defence system to help it ward off barrages of Russian missiles.
Zelensky said the Patriot system was an important step in creating an air shield.
“This is the only way that we can deprive the terrorist state of its main instrument of terror — the possibility to hit our cities, our energy,” Zelensky told a White House news conference, standing next to Biden.
“We would like to get more Patriots ... we are in war,” Zelensky told reporters at the White House.
Russia says it launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine in February to rid it of nationalists and protect Russian-speaking communities. Ukraine and the West describe Russia’s actions as an unprovoked war of aggression.
Ukraine has come under repeated Russian strikes targeting its energy infrastructure in recent weeks, leaving millions without power or running water in the dead of a freezing winter.
TASS news agency cited Russia’s US ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, as saying that Zelensky’s visit confirmed that US statements about not wanting a conflict with Russia were empty words.
America’s provocative actions in Ukraine were leading to an escalation the consequences of which were impossible to imagine, TASS cited Antonov as saying.
Russia said last week, Patriot systems, if delivered to Ukraine, would be a legitimate target for Russian strikes.
Invokes World War 2
Zelensky joined a long list of world leaders to address joint meetings of the US Senate and House, a tradition that began in 1874 with a visit by Hawaiian King Kalakaua and included almost legendary wartime visits by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, kings, queens and one pope.
House members and senators from both parties leapt to their feet to cheer parts of Zelensky’s speech as he likened his country’s battle to World War 2 and even the American Revolution.
Referencing former US President Franklin D Roosevelt, who served between 1933 and 1945, and efforts to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation, Zelensky appealed to Americans as they gathered with family for Christmas.
“Just like the brave American soldiers, [who] held their lines and fought back Hitler’s forces during the Christmas of 1944, brave Ukrainian soldiers are doing the same to Putin’s forces this Christmas,” he said.
Congress is on the verge of approving an additional $44.9bn in emergency military and economic assistance, on top of some $50bn already sent to Ukraine this year as Europe’s biggest land conflict since World War 2 drags on.
White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby said Washington was seeing no sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin was willing to engage in peacemaking.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said more Western arms supplies to Ukraine would lead to a “deepening” of the conflict.
Zelensky said a “just peace” with Russia meant no compromises on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Bakhmut
Russian forces attacked targets in the Zaporizhzhia region and pushed to advance near the battered eastern front-line towns of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, the focal point of fighting in the Donetsk region, Ukraine’s military said on Wednesday evening.
The commander of Ukraine’s “Freedom” battalion, Petro Kuzyk, helping to defend Bakhmut, told the website of Espreso TV: “Each day, there are anywhere from seven to 10 attempts to storm our positions. And it’s the same at night.
“They won’t be able to take Bakhmut, but if they take the heights above it and set up their artillery and cut our logistical arteries, that will make the situation much more difficult,” Kuzyk said.
Putin has promised to give his military whatever it needs to prosecute the war nearing the end of its 10th month and backed a plan to boost the size of the armed forces by more than 30%.
Reuters
Zelensky pleads for military aid in Washington amid Russia-Ukraine war
Putin admits situation in Russian-held parts of Ukraine is ‘difficult’
Cracks are showing for Zelensky and Putin
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