Ukraine still stands against all odds, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he paid a defiant wartime visit to Washington to thank US leaders and citizens for their support in fighting off Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a dramatic visit to Washington on Wednesday, his first known trip outside Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February.
He met with President Joe Biden at the White House and later addressed Congress as lawmakers are set to vote on $45 billion more in emergency aid as part of a larger spending package. Joe Biden on Wednesday also announced the US will send Ukraine a Patriot anti-missile battery to defend against devastating Russian attacks.
He also proposed a 10-point “peace formula” during his meeting with Biden, which he hoped would result in joint security guarantees for decades ahead.
Meanwhile, in a virtual address to US lawmakers back in March, Zelenskyy emotionally pleaded for more aggressive measures to help fight the war. Invoking key American tragedies, including Pearl Harbor and the September 11 attacks, Zelenskyy told members at the time, “Just remember it… Our country experiences the same every day right now.”
-
Against all odds and doom and gloom, Ukraine didn’t fall. Ukraine is alive and kicking,” said the Ukrainian president, adding, “The Russian tyranny has lost control over us.”
-
“I believe in us and our alliance. Ukraine never asked the American soldiers to fight on our land instead of us. I assure you that Ukrainian soldiers can perfectly operate American tanks and planes themselves.
-
This battle cannot be frozen or postponed, or ignored, hoping the ocean or something else will provide protection. The world is too interconnected and interdependent to allow someone to stay aside and at the same time feel safe when such a battle continues. Our nations are allies in this battle.”
-
“Financial assistance is also critically important… Your money is not charity, it’s an investment in global security that we handle in the most responsible way. Russia could stop its aggression if it wanted to, but you can speed up our victory.”
-
“The American people, in their might, will win to absolute victory. The Ukrainian people will win too, absolutely. I know that everything depends on us, on the Ukrainian armed forces, yet so much depends on the world. So much in the world depends on you.”
-
