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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will speak virtually before both houses of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, the second time he addresses American lawmakers in less than a month.
The chairmen of the Democratic majorities in the Lower House and Senate, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, invited Monday in a letter addressed to lawmakers to witness that speech on Wednesday at 09.00 Eastern local time (at 13.00 GMT).
“Congress remains unwaveringly committed to supporting Ukraine as it stands up to (Vladimir) Putin’s diabolical and vicious aggression,” Pelosi and Schumer said in their letter.
They added that they are committed to passing legislation that would “cripple and isolate the Russian economy, as well as deliver humanitarian, security, and economic assistance to Ukraine.”
Zelensky met online with 280 members of Congress on March 5 to request that the United States send more aircraft to Ukraine, ban the import of Russian oil and exclude Russia from Visa and Mastercard payment mechanisms.
The Ukrainian president also reiterated his call for NATO to impose a no-fly zone over the country to prevent Russia from taking over air control. Western governments have rejected this measure for fear that it would lead to clashes between Russian and NATO aircraft.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the United States has adopted several measures to punish Moscow, such as sanctions and a ban on Russian oil imports, among others.
President Joe Biden authorized on Saturday the use of 200 million dollars to help Ukraine with weapons and military equipment in its defense against the Russian invasion troops.
The additional $200 million brings the total U.S. military aid provided to Ukraine so far this year to $1.2 billion.
The new aid package includes Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles that the U.S. military already has in Europe and will arrive in Ukraine overland from neighboring Poland and Romania.
