Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy played on all the appropriate emotional strings (with no violin accompaniment) for a joint session of the U.S. Congress today, which gave him a standing ovation both before and after the speech. Zelenskyy was addressing Congress by video from Kiev. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, never one to miss playing the showman, greeted Zelenskyy, with “Slava Ukraini!” using the slogan meaning “Glory to Ukraine.” This was a catchword with Ukrainian nationalists during the Russian Civil War and became the slogan of the pro-Nazi followers of Stepan Bandera, in lieu of “Heil Hitler,” and has subsequently now been adopted by the Ukrainian government as its war cry.
Zelenskyy made comparisons to Pearl Harbor and to 911, where America also was “attacked from the air.” saying this is what Ukraine is experiencing today. “Our dreams are your dreams,” he said, making a brief reference to Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream.” He reiterated his call for the U.S. to enforce a no-fly-zone over Ukraine, but said that if that was too much (as he realizes), he called to be given the type of aircraft and anti-aircraft weapons with which Ukrainians could protect themselves.
He also demanded that the U.S. increase sanctions against Russia, indeed, impose new sanctions every week as long as the war continues. He also repeated his demand that all U.S. companies leave Russia. And given that NATO membership for Ukraine is not in the cards, he said that there should be created an “association of responsible countries” capable of preventing wars immediately. “We propose to create an alliance of responsible countries that will have the strength and ability to immediately stop conflicts and provide all necessary assistance within 24 hours,” he said. (https://www.c-span.org/video/?518685-1/ukrainian-president-zelensky-calls-us-back-fly-zone-provide-defensive-weapons)
