Zelensky calls on United States to assist with bringing peaceful Ukrainian skies back

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his speech in the United States Congress, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“We are asking for a response. A response from the world. A response to the [Russian – Ed.] terror. Is this too much of a request? Creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine means to save people. The humanitarian no-fly zone,” Zelensky stressed.

In his words, the United States also has dark pages in its great history. Thus, Americans can understand the Ukrainian people, who need support right now. Zelensky recalled the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, “when the sky turned black with aircrafts” attacking Americans.

Zelensky also recalled the tragic 9/11 events, when peaceful American cities turned into a battlefield, “when the innocent people were attacked from the air”, and no one could expect or stop that.

“Our country experiences this every day. Every night. Over the past three weeks. Different Ukrainian cities… Odesa and Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Sumy, Zhytomyr and Lviv, Mariupol and Dnipro. Russia has turned the Ukrainian skies into a source of death. For thousands of people,” Zelensky stressed.

In his words, Russian troops have already launched about 1,000 missile strikes on Ukraine. They are using planes and unmanned aerial vehicles to fire on people.

According to Zelensky, if establishing the no-fly zone is too much of a request, Ukraine is asking for an alternative.

“You know what defense systems we need. S-300 and other similar systems. You know how much depends in a battlefield on the ability to use aviation. Powerful aviation. To protect our people. Our freedom. Our land. The planes, which can help Ukraine, which can help Europe,” Zelensky noted.

In his words, such planes exist but not on the Ukrainian land and not in the Ukrainian skies; they do not protect people.

“I have a dream – these words are familiar to each of you. Today I can say: I have the need. I have the need to protect our skies. I am in need of your decision. Your assistance. And this will mean the same. The same you feel when hearing: ‘I have a dream’,” Zelensky stressed.

A reminder that, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying the key infrastructure facilities, launching missile and air strikes on residential areas in Ukrainian cities and villages, killing civilians in Ukraine.

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