Zelenskyy to address Congress at critical moment in Russia-Ukraine war

Congress will hear an tackle from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday about his nation’s struggle towards the brutal invasion by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The tackle will come as Russia’s forces ratchet up their offense towards main Ukrainian cities, together with the capital, Kyiv. Russians are taking extra floor in Ukraine and aggressively concentrating on civilians as they encounter stiff resistance because the invasion nears the tip of its third full week. 

Zelenskyy will give the tackle by way of video from Kyiv, the place he is chosen to stay at the same time as Russian forces transfer on town. The Ukrainian president stated beforehand that he’s being focused for assassination by Russian saboteurs. 

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“I’m assuming that he’ll say issues similar to what he stated every week in the past within the video convention name that he had with all 100 senators,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, stated Tuesday when requested in regards to the deliberate tackle. “What President Zelenskyy informed us in that decision, he started the decision by saying this can be the final time you ever hear from me.”

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“It is among the highest honors of any Congress to welcome remarks by overseas heads of state, however it’s almost extraordinary in fashionable instances that we hear from a pacesetter combating for his life, combating for his nation’s survival, and combating to protect the very concept of democracy,” Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stated Monday. 

“What does braveness appear to be?” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-In poor health., added on the Senate flooring Tuesday. “Nicely, we see it each day on tv out of Ukraine. … We see the face of braveness within the president of Ukraine, a unprecedented particular person who was as soon as a rising slapstick comedian, who’s now a rising stand-up president.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seen in a Zoom name with U.S. senators on Saturday, March 5, 2022. 
( Sen. Marco Rubio)

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Zelenskyy’s tackle follows weeks of intense debate amongst American officers about how far the U.S. ought to go to help Ukraine, together with serving to present fighter jets, with out additional escalating the battle. 

Certainly one of Zelenskyy’s greatest asks is that the USA facilitate getting Polish fighter jets to his army to assist forestall Russia from getting uncontested aerial superiority. And there is rising strain from each Republicans and Democrats in Congress for President Biden to make that occur. 

“I additionally count on President Zelenskyy to say as he stated to us on the video convention name that their high precedence – we requested, ‘What do you want, what do you want most?’ And he stated they want fighter jets,” Cruz stated. 

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However the White Home is adamant that offering these jets to Ukraine dangers frightening Russia and escalating to a full-scale warfare between the U.S. and Russia. The administration additionally steered extra air protection and anti-tank weapons can be simpler for Ukraine. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in Kyiv, Ukraine. 
(Ukrainian Presidential Press Workplace by way of AP)

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., stated he does not assume the reason from the White Home “holds water,” as a result of if the opposite programs are efficient, they’d be “simply as if no more provocative than jets.” However he acknowledged there are logistical points to work out on offering fighter jets that Zelenskyy would possibly tackle Wednesday. 

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“That could possibly be a productive factor to come back out of the dialogue tomorrow,” Gallagher stated. “If he requires it, and we are able to all form of recreation it out, perhaps there is a productive path ahead. … Possibly it is too late simply because the Biden administration took it off the desk… Definitely, if Zelenskyy delivers an inspiring tackle, perhaps there might be extra enthusiasm for extra artistic methods we are able to assist him going ahead.”

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., informed Fox Information he anticipated the dialogue with Zelenskyy to “contact on matters like sanctions, bolstering NATO assist, and prosecuting Putin as a warfare legal.” 

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Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., additionally emphasised that the U.S. has “plenty of instruments in our toolkit… to use strain to Russia” with out direct army confrontation. He steered that the U.S. begin producing extra home power. 

“I would like to see President Zelenskyy tackle the truth that our allies are sending 300 million U.S. {dollars} a day to the nation of Russia for oil and pure gasoline,” he stated. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, middle, shakes arms with a wounded soldier throughout his go to to a hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine. 
(Ukrainian Presidential Press Workplace by way of AP)

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Home Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., in the meantime, emphasised the gravity of Ukraine’s state of affairs and slammed the few Republicans who’re attacking the Ukrainian president. 

“President Zelenskyy and the folks of Ukraine been courageous and brave, and they’re engaged in main the wrestle between democracy and autocracy, between freedom and tyranny, between fact and propaganda,” Jeffries stated. 

“He is a hero. He isn’t a thug, as a few of my colleagues on the opposite facet of the aisle have steered,” Jeffries continued. “And I stay up for him each thanking the Congress for the work that we have carried out up to now, in addition to delivering a unifying message about what’s at stake for the free world.”

The tackle will happen 9 a.m. ET. 

Fox Information’ Jacqui Heinrich and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.