Zelenskyy thanked Biden and urged U.S. Congress for continued support against Russian invasion of Ukraine during his U.S. visit
The President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine is “alive and kicking” and will never surrender to Russia.
His remarks came during his address to the United States (U.S.) Congress during his first trip to the U.S after the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Zelensky called for continued financial support from the U.S. and said that U.S. aid is not charity but an investment in the global security and democracy that Ukraine will handle in the most responsible way. His appeal comes amid signs that U.S. support is likely to face greater scrutiny by Republican lawmakers in Congress. However, the President of the U.S. – Joe Biden has vowed to stick by Ukraine for as long as it takes. Biden pledged a new U.S. $ 2 billion aid package and promised another U.S. $ 45 billion package.
In a joint press conference, Biden told reporters he was not at all worried about holding the international coalition together. There were concerns that some allies may be feeling the strain of the conflict’s cost and disruption to global food and energy supplies, but Biden said that he felt “very good” about the solidarity of support for Ukraine. As Ukraine’s most important ally, the U.S. has already committed U.S. $ 50 billion (£ 41 billion) of humanitarian, financial and security.
Thanking Biden, Zelenskyy tweeted,
I thank @POTUS for the warm welcome and I deeply appreciate all the support of the U.S. and the American people. I am confident that together we will be able to secure a better, prosperous and free future for both of our nations. Ukraine’s victory will also be America’s victory. pic.twitter.com/OhclRtwIJy
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 22, 2022
Taking it to twitter, Biden tweeted,
What President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine have achieved matters for the entire world. Together, the United States and Ukraine will keep the flame of liberty burning bright.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 22, 2022
That light – again – will prevail over darkness. pic.twitter.com/sxktF6bmV7
Besides, Zelensky urged members of the U.S. Congress to strengthen sanctions against Russia and let them be held responsible for aggression.
He said that Russians use everything against Ukrainian cities such as Bakhmut, but Ukraine holds its lines and will never surrender. Last year, 70,000 people lived there in Bakhmut and now only a few civilians stay. He added that Ukrainians will celebrate Christmas this year, despite the atrocities of the war.
He told the U.S. Congress, “Even if there is no electricity the light of our faith in ourselves will not be put out.”
“Russians’ tactic is primitive. They burn down and destroy everything they see. They sent convicts to the front lines, to the war. They threw everything against us, similar to the other tyranny, which in the Battle of the Bulge threw everything it had against the free world,” added Zelenskyy.
Comparing the Ukraine situation with that of the U.S. during World War II, he said, “Just like the brave American soldiers who held their lines and fought back Hitler’s forces during the Christmas of 1944, brave Ukrainian soldiers are doing the same to Putin’s forces this Christmas. Ukraine holds its lines and will never surrender.”
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the delivery of the Patriot Missile, the advanced surface-to-air missile system, will be considered a provocative step. The Patriot missiles are part of an advanced surface-to-air defence system capable of shooting down cruise missiles, aircraft and short-range ballistic missiles. Kremlin said that the Patriot missile will not contribute to ending the conflict and would not prevent Russia from achieving its goals. The President of Russia – Vladimir Putin said that he believed his country was not to blame for the war in Ukraine, adding both countries were “sharing a tragedy”.
