If ever a pacesetter personified their nation, it’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
Unbroken, defiant, a civilian compelled to don inexperienced army garb, the Ukrainian president spent Wednesday in Washington, DC, on his daring first journey out of his nation since Russia’s brutal, unprovoked invasion in February. He expressed heartfelt gratitude for America’s multi-billion greenback weapons and ammunition lifeline — however made clear he’d by no means cease asking for extra.
Showing with extraordinary symbolism on the White Home with President Joe Biden and earlier than a joint assembly of Congress, Zelensky additionally bore sobering information. A protracted, bloody battle for freedom, democracy, and finally, the survival of a nation Russian President Vladimir Putin says has no proper to exist — a battle for which it is nonetheless not clear the free world has the abdomen — is nowhere close to over.
The comedian actor-turned-wartime hero successfully put the destiny of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians within the fingers of American lawmakers, taxpayers and households at a time when there may be rising skepticism among the many incoming Republican Home majority about the price of US involvement.
At an emotional peak of his speech within the Home chamber, Zelensky handed Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris a Ukrainian flag he retrieved from the most well liked battle entrance at Bakhmut on Tuesday.
“Our heroes … requested me to carry this flag to you, to the US Congress, to members of the Home of Representatives and senators whose choices can save hundreds of thousands of individuals,” he mentioned. “So, let these choices be taken. Let this flag stick with you.”
Editor’s word: This publish was tailored from the Dec. 22 version of CNN’s In the meantime in America, the each day e-mail about US politics for world readers. Learn the total evaluation here or click on here to learn previous editions and subscribe.
