Zelenskyy To Deliver Virtual Joint Address To U.S. Congress

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine will deliver a virtual joint address to Congress on Wednesday. House Speaker Nancy Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced the address in a letter to their colleagues on Monday. “The Congress, our country and the world are in awe of the people of Ukraine, who have shown extraordinary courage, resilience and determination in the face of Russia’s unprovoked, vicious, and illegal war,” wrote Pelosi and Schumer.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine will address Congress in a virtual speech on Wednesday, Democratic leaders said, a move that will likely increase growing momentum on Capitol Hill to pressure President Biden to send fighter jets to Kyiv. https://t.co/v4soTZl71S

— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 14, 2022

More from the New York Times:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, announced on Monday that Mr. Zelensky would deliver a closed-door speech to lawmakers, an address that comes nearly two weeks after Mr. Zelensky met virtually with members of Congress and urged them to send jets to Kyiv.

Few of Mr. Zelensky’s requests have changed since the last time he spoke with members of Congress, including his plea for fighter jets to help push back Russia’s advancing forces. His speech on Wednesday is likely to only rally more support on Capitol Hill for such a move.

His last conversation with lawmakers left even Democratic allies of Mr. Biden urging the administration to facilitate the transfer of fighter jets — namely Russian-made MIG fighters — to the Ukrainians.

As of Monday, the United Nations estimated at least 2.8 million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on February 24. Read more at the New York Times.

On Wednesday: President Zelenskyy will address a joint session of the Congress and speak directly to the American people, on behalf of the Ukrainian people. pic.twitter.com/SfpPyxpBqg

— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) March 14, 2022

Pres Volodymyr Zelenskyy of #Ukraine to address both chambers of US Congress virtually Wednesday as country defends itself from unprovoked invasion by Russia; Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer: “Congress remains unwavering in our commitment to supporting Ukraine”; READ: pic.twitter.com/K5TetjWjDq

— Mark Albert (@malbertnews) March 14, 2022