Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made another plea for a no-fly zone to be implemented over his country’s airspace against Russian military. He made the new plea in an address to the U.S Congress on Wednesday, 16 March, 2022.
Is this a lot to ask for? To create a no-fly zone over Ukraine to save people,” he asked members of Congress.
Ukrainians have been asking Western Leaders to institute a no-fly zone over Ukraine following the Russian Invasion of Ukraine that started on February 24, 2022. While expressing the support in both words and actions, Western Countries and NATO have ruled out an imposition of a no-fly zone over Ukraine. They argue that such a measure would place NATO warplanes at risk of direct engagement with Russian aircraft, raising the possibility of a nuclear confrontation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in response to the calls of a no-fly zone that any country which imposes a no-fly zone over Ukraine will be joining the conflict.
President Zelensky subsequently slammed Nato for refusing to impose a no-fly zone, effectively allowing Russian planes to continue shelling civilians.
Read also; Ukraine’s constitution-enshrined bid for NATO Membership not realizable – Zelensky
As part of the address, Zelensly showed the U.S congress a video showing the devastating effects of the war on his country. At one graphic point in the video, a body was thrown into a freshly-dug grave.
The video ended with the message “close the sky over Ukraine.”
In buttressing the need of a no-fly zone over Ukraine, President Zelensky invoked Martin Luther King Jr;
I have a need. I need to protect our sky. I need your decision, your hep, which means exactly the same… when you hear the words, “I have a dream,” he said.
Zelensky then made a personal appeal to President Biden, said “you are the leader of your great nation, I wish you to be the leader of the world.
“Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.”
The U.S Congress gave Zelensky a standing ovation before and after his speech.
Full speech: Source PBS News
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
