Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with US Parliament on Monday morning to discuss the ongoing invasion of Russia.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Announced the next meeting on Monday. Dear colleague’s letter.
“Parliament, our country, and the world are in awe of the Ukrainians who have shown extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination in the face of Russia’s provocative and vicious illegal war. “Pelosi writes.
“Inviting all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to a virtual speech to the U.S. Parliament by President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Wednesday as the war intensifies in Ukraine is a great respect to the Ukrainian people. It represents praise. 9:00 am on the 16th. “
She further “passes a bill to support Ukraine in the face of Putin’s cruel and demonic aggression, crippling and isolating the Russian economy and providing Ukraine with humanitarian, security and financial support. In our commitment, Congress remains unwavering. “
Russia’s expansion into Ukraine, which began at the end of February, was stalled by Ukrainian resistance, and Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to promptly expand into Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
On March 11, the Senate approved $ 13.6 billion in financial and military assistance to Ukraine as part of the $ 1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill.
Since the invasion began, Zelensky has urged the United States and its western allies to increase aid to Ukraine, further weakening the Russian economy, especially calling for a ban on high-tech US jets and Russian oil imports. .. Problems for a few weeks.
“‘I need an airplane,'” Brian Mast, a Republican, said in Zelensky’s words. The President of Ukraine also said, “We are all one big army now”, “The people of Ukraine are now the embodiment of unity for democracy of the whole world”, “Help us. Please, and don’t forgive, “said our brave and strong people, many times smaller than Russia and will be extinct. “
Senator Joe Manchin (DW. Va.) Leaded a group of bipartisan parliamentarians to ban Russia’s oil imports, but the provision of fighters was a much more controversial issue.
Many lawmakers are concerned that sending US jets to Ukraine could quickly exacerbate the situation. Union. US lawmakers have blamed Russia’s invasion, but members of both parties are anxious to avoid escalations and ground wars between the two nuclear-armed superpowers.
However, other lawmakers are in favor of delivering US jets to Ukraine.
“Ukrainian troops are in desperate need of more deadly assistance today to protect their foundations that will enable them to function in the future,” said Senator Joni Ernst, Iowa. rice field.
The Pentagon is not very supportive of the plan.
When asked about this issue, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said, “It is simply not clear to us that there is a substantive rationale for it.” “We continue to discuss this issue and the difficult logistical challenges it poses with Poland and other NATO allies, but we do not believe it. [the proposal] It’s sustainable. “
Zachary Steiber and Naveen Athrappully contributed to this report.
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Josef Lord is a parliamentary reporter for the Epoch Times, which focuses on the Democratic Party. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Clemson University and was a scholar in the Lysiam Program.