Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Congress on Wednesday night to approve more aid for Ukraine, telling lawmakers that “this battle cannot be frozen and postponed,” and reminding them that temperatures are falling with the arrival of winter.

“Ukraine is alive and kicking,” Zelenskyy said in English to applause. “Russian tyranny has lost control over us,” he added.

Zelenskyy, who delivered his entire address in English, thanked Americans for support and vowed Ukraine “will win because we are united — Ukraine, America and the entire free world.”

“Standing here today, I recall the words of the president Franklin Delano Roosevelt …’The American people in their righteous might will win through absolute victory,'” Zelenskyy said. “The Ukrainian people will win too. Absolutely.”

Zelensky gives Nancy Pelosi a Ukrainian flag and a big kiss on the cheek pic.twitter.com/mutaCY5HvT

— John Hudson (@John_Hudson) December 22, 2022

Ukraine “holds its positions and will never surrender”, President Volodymyr Zelensky underlined yesterday, to the applause of members of the US Congress, who he assured that the money the US gives to his country is not “charity”, but ” an investment”.

Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate gave Zelensky a standing ovation, dressed in the military khakis since the Russian invasion, and delivered his speech in English: “Contrary to the most ominous predictions, Ukraine did not fall. Ukraine is alive and fighting. Russian tyranny no longer controls us,” he added, while his twenty-minute speech was often interrupted by the applause of American parliamentarians.

With this speech before Congress, he completed his first visit abroad after the Russian invasion on February 24.

He noted that many in Ukraine will celebrate Christmas by candle — not because it’s romantic but because Russians have destroyed the power. Millions will have neither heating nor running water, he said. But they would celebrate nonetheless, he said, adding that millions of Ukrainians want the same thing — victory.

At the end of the speech, he presented a Ukrainian flag signed by Ukrainians to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris.

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