Zelenskyy to US Congress: ‘We Need You Right Now’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked members of the United States Congress Wednesday to do more to help his country against the Russian invasion.

Wearing a military green T-shirt, he said, "We need you right now."

The 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.

Zelenskyy 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."

He 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."

"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."

The Ukrainian president continued his appeal for what he describes as a "humanitarian¹ no-fly zone." But he offered "an alternative," calling for air defense² missile systems like the S-300. He also appealed for more warplanes and stronger economic measures against Russia.

Zelenskyy ended his speech with a direct appeal to American President Joe Biden. He spoke³ 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."

Appeals to Western nations

Zelenskyy'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.

Speaking from the White House, Biden said Zelenskyy "speaks for a people who have shown remarkable⁴ courage and strength in the face of brutal⁵ aggression⁶. Courage and strength that's inspired not only Ukrainians but the entire world."

The 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.

The 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."

The support does not include the no-fly zone that Zelenskyy had requested.

The Biden administration said earlier that it has sent hundreds of Stinger missiles, Javelin⁷ anti-tank systems, radar⁸ systems, machine guns and ammunition⁹. Other military equipment included helicopters, boats, satellite imagery and personal protective gear.

Biden 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 risky¹⁰. 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.

Words in This Story

alternative –n. something that can be chosen instead of something else; a choice

courage –n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous

brutal –adj. extremely cruel or harsh

1 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

5 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

6 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

7 javelin   

n.标枪，投枪

参考例句：

• She achieved a throw of sixty metres in the javelin event.在掷标枪项目中，她掷了60米远。
• The coach taught us how to launch a javelin.教练教我们投标枪。

8 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

9 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

10 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。