President Biden announces additional aid to Ukraine

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Invoking a few of America’s best tragedies to elucidate his nation’s wrestle, Zelenskyy implored the U.S. to do extra to assist him struggle Russia’s onslaught of assaults in a digital deal with Wednesday to Congress that ended with a direct plea to Biden.

“President Biden, you’re the chief of your nice nation,” Zelenskyy stated, concluding his emotional enchantment. “I want you to be the chief of the world. Being the chief of the world means to be the chief of peace.”

The 16-minute deal with marked a uncommon second: a world chief, whose nation has been beneath siege for 3 weeks, making his case to the American folks. Members of Congress watched from an auditorium on the U.S. Capitol complicated with Zelenskyy, talking from Kyiv , displayed on a big video display screen.

“We’d like you proper now. Keep in mind Pearl Harbor, the horrible morning of December 7, 1941, when your sky was black from the planes attacking you,” Zelenskyy, sporting a khaki T-shirt, stated. “Keep in mind September 11, a horrible day in 2001, when evil tried to show your cities, unbiased territories, into battlefields when harmless folks have been attacked.” 

Zelenskyy’s enchantment to Congress got here because the Biden administration has rejected his repeated requires the U.S. and allies to declare a “no-fly” zone over Ukraine. The White Home has argued such a coverage – which might have the U.S. shoot down Russian planes that enter Ukraine airspace – could be perceived as escalatory by Russian President Vladimir Putin and will result in conflict between the U.S. and Russia.

Zelenskyy proposes U-24, a brand new coalition: With Ukraine unable to hitch NATO, Zelenskyy pushed for the creation of a “United for Peace” alliance, which he known as “U-24.” He stated it could be made up of 24 “accountable international locations which have the power and consciousness to cease battle instantly.”

“If such an alliance would exist at present,” he stated, “we might be capable of save 1000’s of lives in our nation.”

Ukraine to obtain further help from US

President Joe Biden introduced Wednesday a further $800 million in army help for Ukraine, simply hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s deal with to the U.S. Congress.

Biden stated the U.S. is including to its help, which now totals $1 billion simply this week, to assist “fend off Russia’s assault.”

“America is main this effort, along with our allies and companions, offering monumental ranges of safety and humanitarian help that we’re including to at present, and we will do extra within the days and weeks forward,” he stated, including the struggle is “about the suitable of individuals to find out their very own future, about ensuring Ukraine by no means might be a victory for Putin, it doesn’t matter what advances he makes on the battlefield.”

It is Amy and Chelsey with at present’s prime tales out of Washington.

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Biden dangers dropping assist from Black voters

Throughout his 2020 victory speech shortly after profitable the presidential election, Biden advised the Black voters who had his again, “I owe you.” Final April, throughout his first deal with to a joint session of Congress, the president dedicated his administration to focusing on systemic racism.

However some Black Individuals are nonetheless ready on him to satisfy these guarantees.

A brand new ballot reveals assist for the president amongst Black folks is trending downward. His 83% approval amongst this group from final April dropped to 64% in January.

The explanations are manifold. Final April, Biden known as on Congress to enact sweeping police accountability reforms by the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s dying. Floyd, a Black man, died in 2020 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for 9 minutes. However the president made no point out of race and solely briefly touched on voting rights laws through the first State of the Union deal with of his presidency earlier this month.

“Biden clearly feels one of the best ways to get his message throughout — and to not offend anyone — is to not discuss race,” stated Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter.

Black voters will want additional incentive to assist the president in 2024. Polling in Georgia, a main battleground state, reveals most Black Georgians (72%) approve of Biden’s total job efficiency. However when requested how Biden is “doing in addressing the wants of Black folks,” approval dropped to 62%, and 53% amongst respondents beneath age 50.

Excellent news: The White Home is reopening for excursions subsequent month after closing for 2 years as a result of pandemic. This is see the president’s residence. — Amy and Chelsey.