Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a historic speech from the US Capitol on Wednesday evening, expressing gratitude for American support in fighting Russian aggression since the start of the war – and asking for more.
“I hope my words of respect and gratitude will resonate in every American heart,” Zelensky said during a joint session of Congress, adding later: “Against all odds, and worst-case scenarios, Ukraine is not Ukraine is alive and kicking.
But next to Zelensky’s gratitude was a prayer, emphasizing that his armed forces are outnumbered and outnumbered by the Russian army even when they fight. At one point, Zelensky drew laughter from the camera when he said: “We have artillery, yes. Thank you. We have it. Is it enough? Honestly, not really.”
Zelensky’s visit to Washington marks his first trip outside his homeland since it was invaded 300 days ago, arriving on Wednesday afternoon to set a course for the future of the war alongside a key Western ally.
On “the front line of tyranny”, Zelensky argued during his speech to Congress, American support “is crucial not only to stay in such (a) fight, but to reach the turning point to win on the battlefield.”
“The world is too interconnected and too interdependent to allow anyone to stand aside and at the same time to feel safe when such a battle continues,” he added. “Our two nations are allies in this battle and next year will be a turning point, I know – the point where Ukrainian courage and American resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom, the freedom of the people who they support their values.
“Your money is not charity,” he told Congress. “It is an investment in global security and democracy that we manage in the most responsible way.” Zelensky also asked lawmakers to strengthen sanctions against Russia.
However, despite the disparity in resources, Zelensky said: “Ukraine will hold its line and never surrender.”
In his speech, Zelensky returned to American history, referring to the Battle of the Bulge, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Battle of Saratoga. Like “brave American soldiers who held their lines” and fought against Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany in 1944, Ukrainian soldiers “will do the same with Putin’s forces this Christmas,” Zelensky said.
He also briefly discussed a 10-point peace formula and a summit that he told US President Joe Biden during a previous meeting at the White House. Zelensky said Biden supported peace initiatives.
Zelensky also recalled his recent visit to the frontlines – Bakhmut in Donbas – which has been under siege since May. There, he said, “every inch of that land is soaked in blood, roaring guns sound every hour.” In the climactic moment of the speech, he unveiled a Ukrainian flag signed by soldiers fighting in Bakhmut that he gave as a gift to Congress.
“The occupiers have a significant advantage in artillery. They have an advantage in ammunition. They have many more missiles and aircraft than we have ever had. It is true, but our defense forces are,” he added.
Russia, Zelensky argued in strong terms, has “found an ally” in Iran.
“The deadly drones Iran sent to Russia in the hundreds have become a threat to our critical infrastructure. This is how one terrorist found another,” he said. “It’s only a matter of time before they attack your other allies if we don’t stop them now.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader visited the White House, where he met with Biden and held a joint press conference, during which the duo showed a united front on their approach to the war.
“I think … we share exactly the same vision, and that a free, independent, prosperous and secure Ukraine is the vision — we both want this war to end,” Biden told reporters in the East Room of the White House .
At the start of the press conference, Biden said he felt it was “particularly meaningful” to talk to Zelensky in person and “look him in the eye.” The leadership of the Ukrainian president, Biden said, inspired the world.
“We understand in our bones that the Ukraine struggle is part of something much bigger,” Biden continued.
Biden said Zelensky showed his “strong stance against aggression in the face of the imperial appetite of autocrats,” and said the United States stood by Ukraine to uphold “fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Both Biden and Zelensky addressed the Russians during the press conference, with the Ukrainian president repeatedly calling Russian forces “terrorists” and Biden stressing the importance of being “clear” about Russia’s actions.
“Deliberately attack Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, destroying the system to provide heat and light (to) the Ukrainian people during the coldest and darkest part of the year. Russia uses winter as a weapon, freezing people, starving people, cutting each other off,” Biden said. The war, Biden later argued, “could end today if Putin had some dignity and did the right thing and just… pulled out. But that’s not going to happen.”
But the two leaders, it seems, still have different perspectives on their approach to pursuing peace with Russia.
At the beginning of the press conference, Biden said that Zelensky was open to pursuing a “just peace”. Later, when a reporter asked him to share his idea of a fair way to end the war, the Ukrainian leader replied: “For me, as president, the fair peace is not a compromise in terms of sovereignty, the freedom and territorial integrity of my country. , the reimbursement for all the damage inflicted by the Russian aggression”.
“There can be no just peace in the war that has been imposed on us by these … inhumans, I would say,” he added.
In pictures: Zelensky’s wartime visit to US
Zelensky arrived on the South Lawn just after 2 p.m. ET, eschewing a suit for his now-familiar military green shirt. On the same subject : Fauci says he will ‘probably’ retire by the end of Biden’s first term. A military honor guard lined the White House driveway as his black vehicle pulled up to the building.
“I understand that we have very important topics and we have to discuss, everything, so many challenges in Ukraine, in Europe, in the world, from energy to the situation on the battlefield,” said Zelensky in the Oval Office. “But first of all, really, all my appreciation from my heart, from the heart of Ukrainians, all Ukrainians, from our nation.”
The wartime visit was intended to demonstrate in rousing fashion America’s continued commitment to Ukraine at a time when Biden’s ability to maintain that support at home and abroad is being tested.
It was also an opportunity for Biden and the main American officials to sound Zelensky on how they see the trajectory of the conflict, and to offer their thoughts on what it takes to bring the war to an end.
“Together with our partners, we will also impose costs on the Kremlin and support Ukraine in the search for a just peace,” Biden said in the Oval Office, a reference to how Zelensky said he hopes to see the end of the war “President Zelensky, the United States is with the brave in Ukraine.”
Sitting in front of a roaring fire, Zelensky offered Biden a military cross medal from a Ukrainian soldier serving on the front lines.
“He said, ‘Give it to a very good president,'” Zelensky said.
“Deserved but much appreciated,” Biden replied as he accepted the medal, asking if he could contact the Ukrainian soldier.
The trip, which US and Ukrainian officials secretly organized last week, came with heavy risks. After arriving in Poland by train, Zelensky flew to Washington aboard a US military aircraft, US officials said. He arrived in the United States shortly after noon at Joint Base Andrews, just outside the nation’s capital.
Biden first discussed the prospect of Zelensky visiting Washington during a phone call with the Ukrainian leader on Dec. 11, an administration official said. A formal invitation was extended a week ago that Zelensky accepted, launching joint consultations on the security parameters of the risky and highly secretive trip.
Zelensky, who the official said was “very excited” to visit the United States, determined that these parameters meet his needs, and the United States is working to implement them. The trip was finally confirmed on Sunday.
Tight security has been enforced around Zelensky’s visit amid concerns that Russia wants to incapacitate the Ukrainian president, a source close to the Ukrainian leader told CNN on Wednesday. Due to this ongoing threat, senior government officials – and even the staff of the embassy in the United States – have not been informed about the schedule of the visit.
According to the source, the military risk had to be calculated allowing the Ukrainian president to make the short trip overseas without endangering the military situation. The planner also had to work with the White House to assess availability for this to happen.
Considering a visit, Zelensky suggested that he would not want to travel if there had not been a significant development in the bilateral relationship between Ukraine and the United States. Zelensky saw the US decision to send Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine as a major change in the relationship between the two allies.
The new $1.8 billion package that Biden unveiled includes a Patriot surface-to-air missile system, which has been a long-standing demand of Ukraine to address Russian airstrikes. CNN was the first to announce that the United States would send Patriot systems to Ukraine.
Unlike smaller air defense systems, Patriot missile batteries require much larger equipment, requiring dozens of personnel to operate properly. Training for Patriot missile batteries usually takes several months, a process the US will now carry out under the pressure of almost daily airstrikes from Russia.
The system is widely considered one of the long-range weapons most capable of defending airspace against incoming ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as some aircraft. With its long-range, high-altitude capability, it can potentially shoot down Russian missiles and aircraft far from their intended targets inside Ukraine.
During the press conference, Biden told CNN’s Phil Mattingly that the missile system is defensive, not escalator. Zelensky said the system is “something that will significantly strengthen our air defense.”
“Every dollar of this investment for the United States will be a strengthening of global security and I know that the American leadership will be strong and play an important role in the global goal,” added Zelensky.
He also suggested that Ukraine wanted more of the systems.
Every nuclear explosion creates radiation, heat and blast effects that will result in many quick casualties. Direct radiation is the most immediate effect of detonating a nuclear weapon. It is produced by nuclear reactions in the bomb and comes mainly in the form of gamma rays and neutrons.
How rich is Ukraine?
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| GDP | $198.32 billion (nominal, 2021.) $588 billion (PPP, 2021). |
| GDP ranking | 55th (nominal, 2021) 40th (PPP, 2021) |
Why is Ukraine rich? Ukraine is home to some of the world’s largest reserves of titanium and iron ore, untapped lithium fields and huge coal deposits. To see also : Montenegro State Day – United States Department of State. Collectively, they are worth tens of trillions of dollars.
What does Ukraine produce the most?
Agricultural products are the most important exports of Ukraine. In 2021, they totaled $27. To see also : The impact from the collapse of Irfid also shakes the democracy of the United States.8 billion, representing 41 percent of the country’s $68 billion in total exports. Ukraine is usually the world’s leading producer of sunflower meal, oil and seeds and the world’s leading exporter of sunflower meal and oil.
What is the main industry of Ukraine?
The largest country in Europe – the area of Ukraine is 603,500 square kilometers. Developed market economy â Ukraine enjoys competitive agricultural, energy, metallurgy, chemical and manufacturing industries, a high-tech industrial base, and a rapidly developing IT and high-tech sector.
Does Ukraine have nuclear weapons?
Ukraine has no nuclear weapons in its arsenal. In 1991, Ukraine gained independence and inherited the nuclear weapons from the USSR that were located and produced on Ukrainian territory. At that time, Ukraine had the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world.
Does Ukraine have nuclear power? The South Crania nuclear power plant has three reactors. November 25, 2022: The facility’s connection to the electrical grid has been restored.
Does the Ukraine still have any nuclear weapons?
While Ukraine has several nuclear power plants for civilian use, the country has no nuclear weapons. Ukraine inherited a large nuclear arsenal when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. But Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons under a 1994 agreement that pledged Russia would respect Ukraine’s borders. .
How many nuclear weapons does Ukraine have?
After Ukraine’s independence in 1991, more than 1,700 Soviet nuclear weapons were left on its territory. Ukraine never had operational control of the weapons, and all were removed to Russia under a 1994 agreement in exchange for security assurances.
Does Zelensky have children?
What does Zelensky mean in Russian? Zelensky is a Slavic male surname. Its Russian spelling еленÑкий is Romanized Zelenski, Zelenskii, Zelenskiy, or Zelensky, and derives from the toponym Zelyonoe (ÐелÑное), meaning “green”. Its female counterpart is ÐеленÑÐºÐ°Ñ (Zelenskaya or Zelenskaia).
Is Zelenskyy married?
Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska (née Kiyashko; born February 6, 1978) is a Ukrainian architect and screenwriter who is the current First Lady of Ukraine as the wife of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
