We need you right now: Ukraine President cites 9/11 in address to US Congress

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cited Pearl Harbor and the terror attacks of Sept 11 2001 on Wednesday as he appealed to the US Congress to do more to help Ukraines fight against RussiaLivestreamed into the Capitol complex Zelenskyy said the US must sanction Russian lawmakers and block imports and he showed a packed auditorium of US lawmakers an emotional video of the destruction and devastation in his country has suffered in the warldquoWe need you right nowrdquo Zelenskyy said adding I call on you to do morerdquoIn calling for more economic hit to the Russians he said ldquoPeace is more important than incomerdquo Lawmakers gave him a standing ovation before and after his remarksNearing the threeweek mark in an everescalating war Zelenskyy has used his campaign to implore allied leaders to ldquoclose the skyrdquo to prevent the Russian airstrikes that are devastating his country It has also put Zelenskyy at odds with President Joe Biden whose administration has stopped short of providing a nofly zone or the transfer of military jets from neighboring Poland as the US seeks to avoid a direct confrontation with RussiaInstead Biden will deliver his own address following Zelenskyys speech in which he is expected to announce an additional 800 million in security assistance to Ukraine according to a White House official That would bring the total announced in the last week alone to 1 billion It includes money for antiarmor and airdefense weapons according to the official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymityAppearing in his nowtrademark army green Tshirt as he appeals to world leaders Zelenskyy has emerged as a heroic figure at the center of what many view as the biggest security threat to Europe since World War II Almost 3 million refugees have fled Ukraine the fastest exodus in modern timesThe Ukrainian president is no stranger to Congress having played a central role in Donald Trumps first impeachment As president Trump was accused of withholding security aid to Ukraine as he pressured Zelenskyy to dig up dirt on political rival BidenZelensky spoke on the giant screen to many of the same Republican lawmakers who declined to impeach or convict Trump but are among the bipartisan groundswell in Congress now clamoring for military aid to UkraineInvoking Shakespeares hero last week Zelenskyy asked the British House of Commons whether Ukraine is ldquoto be or not to berdquo On Tuesday he appealed to ldquoDear Justinrdquo as he addressed the Canadian Parliament and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Zelenskyy called on European Union leaders at the start of the war to do the politically unthinkable and fasttrack Ukraines membership and he has continued to push for more help to save his young democracy than world leaders have so far pledged to doldquoI know he will ask for more helprdquo said Sen Elizabeth Warren DMassBiden has insisted there will be no US troops on the ground in Ukraine and has resisted Zelenskyys relentless pleas for warplanes as too risky potentially escalating into a direct confrontation with nucleararmed RussialdquoDirect conflict between NATO and Russia is World War IIIrdquo Biden has saidUS defence officials say they are puzzled by Zelenskyys demand for more warplanes They say Ukraine isnt often flying the planes it has now while making good use of other weapons the West is providing including Stinger missiles for shooting down helicopters and other aircraftWhile officials are anticipating that Zelenskyy may once again call on the US and the West for fighter jets or help establishing a nofly zone the Biden administration is looking to send Ukraine ldquomore of whats been working wellrdquo according to an official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymityAlready the Biden administration has sent Ukraine more than 600 Stinger missiles 2600 Javelin antiarmor systems unmanned aerial system tracking radars grenade launchers 200 shotguns 200 machine guns and nearly 40 million rounds of small arms ammunition along with helicopters patrol boats satellite imagery and body armor helmets and other tactical gear the official saidEven though Zelenskyy and Biden speak almost daily by phone the Ukrainian president has found a potentially more receptive audience in CongressThis wont be the first time he has appealed directly to members of the House and Senate who have remained remarkably unified in their support of Ukraine Nearly two weeks ago Zelenskyy delivered a desperate plea to some 300 lawmakers and staff on a private call that if they could not enforce a nofly zone at least send more planesWe think the United States needs to do more said Sen Roger Wicker RMiss returning from a weekend visit with other lawmakers to PolandCongress has already approved USD 136 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and the newly announced security aid will come from that allotment which is part of a broader bill that Biden signed into law Tuesday But lawmakers expect more aid will be neededHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Zelenskyy asked for help in rebuilding his country when they spoke last week It was in that call that Zelenskyy asked to address the US Congress something the Democratic leader readily agreed toldquoThe Congress our country and the world are in awe of the people of Ukrainerdquo said Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a statement Monday announcing the addressThey said Congress ldquoremains unwavering in our commitment to supporting Ukraine as they face Putins cruel and diabolical aggressionrdquoZelenskyys next stop could be Spain The speaker of Spains Congress of Deputies has invited the Ukrainian president to address Spanish lawmakers via videolinkIn a letter to Zelenskyy Speaker Meritxell Batet wrote that the address ldquowill be a magnificent opportunity for the chamber all Spanish people and the thousands of Ukrainians living in Spain to listen to your message and express our firmest supportrdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever