Zelenskyy to US Congress: 'We Need You Right Now'
2022-03-17
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1Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked members of the United States Congress Wednesday to do more to help his country against the Russian invasion.
2Wearing a military green T-shirt, he said, "We need you right now."
3The Ukrainian president delivered the speech to Congress over a video link.
4House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced him with a cheer in Ukrainian "glory to Ukraine."
5American lawmakers stood up for a time to cheer Zelenskyy at the start and at the end of his speech.
6Zelenskyy said: "Remember Pearl Harbor, the terrible morning of December 7, 1941, when your sky was black from the planes attacking you.
7Just remember it. Remember September 11th, a terrible day in 2001 when evil tried to turn your cities, independent territories, into battlefields."
8He also used the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., saying: "I have a dream, these words are known to each of you today I can say. I have a need; I need to protect our sky."
9"Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people," Zelenskyy said.
10And he showed a video with images of death and destruction that ended with the words "Close the sky over Ukraine."
11The Ukrainian president continued his appeal for what he describes as a "humanitarian no-fly zone."
12But he offered "an alternative," calling for air defense missile systems like the S-300.
13He also appealed for more warplanes and stronger economic measures against Russia.
14Zelenskyy ended his speech with a direct appeal to American President Joe Biden.
15He spoke in English, "You are the leader of the nation, of your great nation.
16I wish you to be the leader of the world.
17Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace."
18Zelenskyy's speech to the U.S. Congress followed similar appeals for help before the parliaments of Europe, Britain and Canada.
19Nearly two weeks ago, he also met over video with some U.S. lawmakers.
20At the time, he also asked for a no-fly zone, a term for closing the airspace over a country, and for more aircraft.
21Speaking from the White House,
22Biden said Zelenskyy "speaks for a people who have shown remarkable courage and strength in the face of brutal aggression.
23Courage and strength that's inspired not only Ukrainians but the entire world."
24The U.S. president then approved an additional $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine bringing the total to $1 billion this week.
25"We're going to give Ukraine the arms to fight and defend themselves through all the difficult days ahead," Biden said.
26The new weapons, Biden said, include "800 anti-aircraft systems to make sure the Ukrainian military can continue to stop the planes and helicopters that have been attacking their people and to defend their Ukrainian airspace."
27The support does not include the no-fly zone that Zelenskyy had requested.
28The Biden administration said earlier that it has sent hundreds of Stinger missiles, Javelin anti-tank systems, radar systems, machine guns and ammunition.
29Other military equipment included helicopters, boats, satellite imagery and personal protective gear.
30Biden has said U.S. troops will not fight on the ground in Ukraine.
31He has also rejected the calls for a no-fly zone and additional warplanes as too risky.
32Such moves could bring the U.S. and NATO allies into a direct conflict with Russia: a nuclear power and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
33I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked members of the United States Congress Wednesday to do more to help his country against the Russian invasion. 2Wearing a military green T-shirt, he said, "We need you right now." 3The Ukrainian president delivered the speech to Congress over a video link. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced him with a cheer in Ukrainian "glory to Ukraine." American lawmakers stood up for a time to cheer Zelenskyy at the start and at the end of his speech. 4Zelenskyy said: "Remember Pearl Harbor, the terrible morning of December 7, 1941, when your sky was black from the planes attacking you. Just remember it. Remember September 11th, a terrible day in 2001 when evil tried to turn your cities, independent territories, into battlefields." 5He also used the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., saying: "I have a dream, these words are known to each of you today I can say. I have a need; I need to protect our sky." 6"Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people," Zelenskyy said. And he showed a video with images of death and destruction that ended with the words "Close the sky over Ukraine." 7The Ukrainian president continued his appeal for what he describes as a "humanitarian no-fly zone." But he offered "an alternative," calling for air defense missile systems like the S-300. He also appealed for more warplanes and stronger economic measures against Russia. 8Zelenskyy ended his speech with a direct appeal to American President Joe Biden. He spoke in English, "You are the leader of the nation, of 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." 9Appeals to Western nations 10Zelenskyy's speech to the U.S. Congress followed similar appeals for help before the parliaments of Europe, Britain and Canada. Nearly two weeks ago, he also met over video with some U.S. lawmakers. At the time, he also asked for a no-fly zone, a term for closing the airspace over a country, and for more aircraft. 11Speaking from the White House, Biden said Zelenskyy "speaks for a people who have shown remarkable courage and strength in the face of brutal aggression. Courage and strength that's inspired not only Ukrainians but the entire world." 12The U.S. president then approved an additional $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine bringing the total to $1 billion this week. "We're going to give Ukraine the arms to fight and defend themselves through all the difficult days ahead," Biden said. 13The new weapons, Biden said, include "800 anti-aircraft systems to make sure the Ukrainian military can continue to stop the planes and helicopters that have been attacking their people and to defend their Ukrainian airspace." 14The support does not include the no-fly zone that Zelenskyy had requested. 15The Biden administration said earlier that it has sent hundreds of Stinger missiles, Javelin anti-tank systems, radar systems, machine guns and ammunition. Other military equipment included helicopters, boats, satellite imagery and personal protective gear. 16Biden has said U.S. troops will not fight on the ground in Ukraine. He has also rejected the calls for a no-fly zone and additional warplanes as too risky. Such moves could bring the U.S. and NATO allies into a direct conflict with Russia: a nuclear power and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. 17I'm Jonathan Evans. 18Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. 19____________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21alternative -n. something that can be chosen instead of something else; a choice 22courage -n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous 23brutal -adj. extremely cruel or harsh 24We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.