Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is hoping to intensify pleas for NATO allies to help in halting Russian attacks when he addresses the US Congress through a video link later today, Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
Mr. Zelenskyy is likely to repeat his request for a no-fly zone, in his upcoming speech to a US parliament. His address is coming at a time that US President, Joe Biden, is set to announce an additional $800m (£612m) in military aid to Ukraine.
Per a US media report, the money will go into procuring anti-armour and anti-aircraft weapons, such as Stingers and Javelins. The funding is covered by a spending bill on humanitarian, defensive and economic assistance to Ukraine that was approved by Congress last week.
Signing the bill on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, Mr. Biden said that Russian President, Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine had united people across the world.
In a New York Times report, it noted that in the past year (2021), the Biden administration has provided $1.2bn in weapons for the country, including Mi-17 helicopters, patrol boats and small arms such as grenade launchers and machine guns.
Calls by Mr. Zelenskyy over no-fly Zone
Mr. Zelenskyy has repeatedly called on NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country’s airspace, but NATO has refused.
A no-fly zone over Ukraine’s airspace would mean that NATO forces would engage directly with any Russian planes spotted in those skies and eventually, shoot at them if necessary.
In addition to a no-fly zone policy, the Ukrainian President has also asked the US and the European Union for Polish MiG-29 fighter jets, but this has been rejected by Mr. Biden over fears that it would pull NATO members into the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
Biden to meet NATO allies
Mr. Biden is set to travel to Brussels next week to meet with NATO allies and participate in a summit of European Union leaders.
White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki, disclosed that the US President will “discuss ongoing deterrence and defence efforts,” and reaffirm his country’s commitment to its NATO allies.
Visit by three Western countries
On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, the Prime Ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, met Mr. Zelensky in the evening as a curfew began in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
The Prime Ministers’ presence in Kyiv yesterday in a show of high-level backing for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting also gave Zelenskyy the opportunity to brief the Prime Ministers about the current happenings in the country.
The three, who came by train, were the first Western leaders to visit Ukraine’s capital since the Russian invasion on Thursday, February 24, 2022.
“Your visit to Kyiv at this difficult time for Ukraine is a strong sign of support. We really appreciate it,” Mr. Zelensky announced in an online post.
Afterwards, the Czech leader told Ukrainians that they were “not alone”. The group are the first Western leaders to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded last month.
Footages released by Mr. Zelenskyy’s office showed him speaking with Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, Czech counterpart, Petr Fiala and Slovenia’s Janez Jansa, who were also due to meet Ukrainian officials.
Also in attendance was Polish Deputy Prime Minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the country’s ruling PiS party, who is seen as the main decision-maker in the country.
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