Zelenskyy evokes Pearl Harbor in speech to US Congress

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded with the U.S. Congress for help in a video address Wednesday, comparing the Russian invasion of his country to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The president, however, acknowledged that his request that world powers apply a no-fly zone could not be fulfilled.

In his speech, Zelenskyy stated that the United States should impose sanctions on Russian lawmakers and block imports from Russia. He showed a harrowing video of the destruction Russian forces has caused in his country, including footage of civilian casualties.

“We call on you right now, we call on you to do more,” Zelenskyy said. He urged more action to punish Russia’s economy, declaring: “Peace is more important than income.”

Lawmakers gave him a standing ovation, both before and after his speech, which Zelenskyy began in Ukrainian with the help of an interpreter but then switched to English to make an emotional plea for help.

“I don’t see life making sense if we can’t put an end to this slaughter,” he declared.

Dressed in an olive green T-shirt, Zelinskyy began his speech by evoking the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in September 2001.

“Remember Pearl Harbor? Do you remember September 11? Well, my country is suffering the same thing, every day,” said the president.

Zelenskyy in recent days has implored world powers to impose a no-fly zone over his country in order to curb devastating Russian bombing. This has put President Joe Biden in a dilemma, who until now has refused to apply this measure and even to transfer jets to Poland, for fear of provoking a direct confrontation.

Biden, describing aid he was already prepared to announce, said the United States would send another $800 million in military assistance, for a total of $2 billion sent since the start of his presidency. Last week, the United States sent assistance of approximately 1,000 million dollars.

Biden specified that the new aid includes 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 100 grenade launchers, 20 million bullets, and mortars, and an unspecified number of drones.

“We will give Ukraine the weapons to fight and defend itself in the difficult days ahead,” Biden said.

Zelenskyy has emerged as a heroic figure at the center of what is shaping up to be the worst threat to European security since World War II. Nearly 3 million refugees have fled Ukraine, the fastest exodus in modern times.

The Ukrainian president thanked the American people for their support but urged Biden to do more.

“You are the leader of the nation. I hope he is also the leader of the world,” Zelenskyy said, addressing Biden. “Being the leader of the world means being the leader of peace.”

He referenced the images of American presidents carved into Mount Rushmore, stating that Ukraine wants to “live our own national dream, just as you have yours… we want democracy, independence, freedom.”

Zelenskyy seemed to recognize the political dilemma presented to world powers by his request to impose a no-fly zone over his country.

“Is it too much to ask, to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine? If it’s too much to ask, I offer you an alternative,” he added, calling for more weapons to thwart Russian bombing.

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Correspondents Zeke Miller, Mary Clare Jalonick, Aamer Madhani, Ellen Knickmeyer, Farnoush Amiri, Kevin Freking, Chris Megerian and Raf Casert in Brussels, Jill Lawless in London, Aritz Parra in Madrid, as well as video journalist Rick Gentilo contributed to this story. .