Zelensky in US Congress confirms war in Ukraine is war for US

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House on Wednesday for a meeting with US President Joe Biden in light of the ongoing war in his country and addressed the US Congress in a joint session as lawmakers mull ratifying legislation that will include billions of dollars to be sent to Ukraine as "aid."

During the address, Zelensky urged US lawmakers to provide his forces with more weapons as well as impose additional anti-Russian sanctions.
 
“We have artillery, yes – thank you,” Zelensky acknowledged in his address, and then questioned whether that is enough and went on to answer himself “Honestly, not really.”
 
Zelensky claimed that “to make sure the Russians completely pull out, more shells and cannons are needed.”

The Ukrainian President then called for increased unilateral sanctions against Russia, arguing that Congress had the capacity to impose stronger sanctions. 

Early in his address Zelensky claimed that Kiev has already “defeated Russia in the battle for minds of the world” and the rest of the West had achieved a “victory” over the Russian Federation which he insisted “will never influence us again.”

Zelensky also used the occasion to attack not only the Russian Federation, but also Iran as he stated that "Russia found an ally" in what he called "its homicidal strategy - Iran."

Furthermore, Zelensky added that "one terrorist has found the other," and warned that the Russia-Iran partnership threatened not just Ukraine, but all Western nations, as he stated that "It is just a matter of time before they strike your other allies if we do not stop them now."

Also in his speech, the Ukrainian President hinted that only regime change will "liberate" Russia and noted that "the Russians will stand a chance to be free only when they defeat the Kremlin in their minds."

Zelensky agrees with Putin, fights until the last Ukrainian

There were a few significant statements in Zelensky's speech where he reaffirmed that the war in Ukraine is about changing the world order. Zelensky stated "This struggle will define in what world our children and grandchildren will live, and then their children and grandchildren." 

While he pointed out that this war is one for generations to come, he added that he, and those whom he represented in Ukraine and the world, stand with the American version of the world order. He recalled US President Franklin Roosevelt, who defined modern liberalism in the US and dominated US politics throughout the two World Wars; an era that set the current global world order.

Zelensky stated, "the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory," referring to victory in the war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian President also stated, whilst in the US Congress, that a potential victory against Russia "will prove to any potential aggressor that no one can succeed in breaking national borders, no one committing atrocities and reigning over people against their will."

It is of note that the US is currently illegally occupying Syrian soil and looting Syrian oil, and is currently in violation of numerous international resolutions and the UN charter in a number of countries.

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

Moreover, Zelensky brought with him a flag from Bakhmut to the US and described it as "a symbol of our victory," wherein the US and Ukraine are fighting one and the same war against world order change. and then noted that "we will win because we are united — Ukraine, America, and the entire free world."

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, agreed with the Ukrainian President and tweeted that "the fight for Ukraine is the fight for democracy itself."

Join live as @ZelenskyyUa delivers an inspiring message of unity, resilience and determination tonight in an Address to a Joint Meeting of Congress.

The fight for Ukraine is the fight for democracy itself. https://t.co/3o6Otqhdrf

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 22, 2022

Zelensky, in conclusion, thanked the US and added "may God protect our brave troops and citizens, may God forever bless the United States of America. "

Read more: Putin: The world is changing for the better

Some members of Congress were not impressed

GOP Representatives Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, Dianne Harshbarger, and Jim Jordan remained seated at times when the rest of the US Congress gave Zelensky a standing ovation. These GOP reps were criticized by others however, their positions were not new. 

Gaetz, on his Twitter page, hinted at US Congress' double standards as he noted that when 

Congress: "Audit Trump!"

Also Congress: "If you want to audit aid to Ukraine you support Putin!" pic.twitter.com/1c9NuqGJZd

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) December 22, 2022

Jen Psaki, former White House Press Secretary, called Zelensky's trip a "sales pitch" via her Twitter profile, noting decreasing support for Ukraine in the US.

Expect many well deserved standing ovations when #Zelensky speaks tonight to Congress. He would not be making this trip if support in US wasn’t decreasing while Russians take out energy sources and bombard cities. This is a sales pitch to congress and public. Stick w/ Ukraine

— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) December 21, 2022

While Donald Trump Jr. argued that the Ukrainian President is an "ungrateful international welfare queen."

Zelensky is basically an ungrateful international welfare queen. https://t.co/WclnckMoCj

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) December 21, 2022

Republicans vow audit to track Biden's $20 bln Ukraine aid

It is worth noting that earlier in November, the Biden administration is currently scurrying to track down the approximately $20 billion in military aid it sent to Ukraine, amid a warning by Republicans of impending audits after they take over the House in January.

Incoming House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has previously stated that Ukraine will not receive a "blank check". The purpose of the audit is meant to track how the funds are being delivered and exactly where - as prior suspicions point to many shipped arms ending up on the black market.

Controversial Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who announced the audit decision, promised to "hold our government accountable", as other colleagues such as Rep. Jason Crow echoed to the Washington Post: "The taxpayers deserve to know that investment is going where it's intended to go," adding: "In any war, there can be missteps and misallocation of supplies."

The lawmakers called out current monitoring efforts as inadequate since the Biden administration inspected just 10% of the 22,000 weapons transported to Ukraine between February and November 1, according to the Post. 

However, US allies in Europe believe such an audit won't fully cut off funding, such as UK Parliament member Tobias Ellwood who said in October: "You’d be playing into Putin’s hands... If America pulls back, Putin could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat."

Read more: Russia operation aimed at derailing West's ominous plans: Lavrov