Zelensky Calls For Congress To ‘Remember’ 9/11 And Pearl Harbor In Appeal For Further Aid

Zelensky Invokes American Memories Of 9/11 And Pearl Harbor In Address To Congress

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Americans to “remember” 9/11 and Pearl Harbor in his virtual address to both chambers of Congress Wednesday morning, appealing for additional aid from the United States. Zelensky compared what Ukrainians have experienced over the last three weeks to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor, calling for the U.S. to support a no-fly zone over Ukraine, provide further weapons assistance and sanction all Russian politicians.

In the middle of his speech, Zelensky showed a video of destruction in Ukraine from the war, and spoke in English for the second half of his address. Zelensky concluded by calling on President Joe Biden personally to further support Ukraine: “President Biden, you are the leader of the nation, your great nation. I wish you to be the leader of the world. Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.”

Congress greeted Zelensky with raucous standing ovations before and after his speech. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) introduced Zelensky and began a “Slava Ukraini!” chant, a Ukrainian national slogan that translates to “glory to Ukraine.”

Zelensky has addressed several other international legislative bodies recently, including Canadian and British Parliaments, who also gave Zelensky a standing ovation after his speech.

Zelensky addressed more than 300 Congress members in a Zoom meeting on March 5, calling for a no-fly zone and a ban on Russian oil imports. The White House announced a ban on all Russian energy imports three days later, but has not supported a no-fly zone, and several American lawmakers warned doing so could set off “World War III.” President Joe Biden signed off Tuesday on a funding bill that granted $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine, including support for defense equipment and humanitarian assistance.

—Derek Saul

Key Takeaways: Ukraine Rejects Russia’s Models Of Neutrality

• Mykhailo Podolyak, Ukraine’s lead negotiator in its talks with Russia, pushed back on Russia’s suggestions about implementing Austrian and Swedish models of neutrality for Ukraine in a Wednesday Telegram post.
• In the post, Podolyak rejected the feasibility of using other countries as models for negotiations, considering Russia is waging a “direct war” on Ukraine, emphasizing Ukraine must secure “legally verified security guarantees” in any agreement.
• Earlier Wednesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called for the Austrian and Swedish models of neutrality, explaining Ukraine could keep its military but not maintain foreign bases.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did indicate in a Tuesday speech the door appears to no longer be “open” for Ukraine to join NATO, and, if Ukraine cedes its right to join NATO, it would be a major concession for Ukraine, which states its hopes to join NATO in its constitution.

—Derek Saul