Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Addresses US Senate Over Zoom After NATO Rejects No-Fly Zone

Zelenskyy criticised NATO's decision, calling it a green light for more attacks on Ukraine.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

(Photo: PTI)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United States Senate over a Zoom call on Saturday, 5 March, amid his country's battle against the Russian invasion.

According to Associated Press, Zelenskyy made a "desperate plea" with some 300 members of Congress during the hour-long call and asked them to help his nation fight the Russian invasion by either closing Ukriane 's skies or by sending more warplanes.

Speaking to the publication, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, Zelenskyy wanted the US to facilitate transfer of planes from its east European allies, adding that he would provide all possible help to facilitate the transfer.

In a tweet on Saturday, US Congressman Bill Keating wrote that the meeting was about "how the US can best support Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of Putin's indiscriminate attacks..."

With the Russian attack intensifying, several lawmakers in the US have urged President Joe Biden to take a tougher stance against Russia, such as stopping oil imports. The White House has, however, refused to do that as it worries that the oil prices in the country might rise, which will impact American consumers.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while talking to BBC News, said that Ukraine can "absolutely" win the ongoing war against Russia and praised the "extraordinary resilience" of the Ukrainian people.

Asked if the US would seek a change in Moscow's leadership to bring an end to the invasion, he replied, "We don't seek that, and in any event it's not up to us. The Russian people need to decide their leadership."

"What I would say to the Russian people is: How in the world is this war of aggression... advancing your interests, your needs, " he questioned.

NATO Rejects No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine

NATO on Friday, 5 March, denied Zelenskyy's request of setting up a no-fly zone over Ukraine to stop Russia's airstrikes.

Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, said that while the group was helping Ukraine protect its skies, setting up a no-fly zone would require NATO forces to shoot down Russian planes, a move that could result in a war in Europe, Al Jazeera reported.

Stating that NATO was not part of the ongoing conflict, Stoltenberg said, "We have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine because that would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering".

Ukraine’s president criticised the NATO's decision in an emotional address and said that by refusing the request for a no-fly zone, "NATO has given a green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages."

Since Russia's invasion began on 24 February, Ukrainian forces have continued with a stiff resistance against Moscow's advances.

(With agency inputs.)