Ukraine's Zelenskyy addresses Congress, invokes 9/11, Pearl Harbor, MLK as he pleads for pivotal aid

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an address to Congress Wednesday, pleaded with the United States to "do more" by implementing a no-fly zone, providing additional aircraft and air defense systems, and creating a new security alliance.

Zelenskyy, speaking to U.S. lawmakers from Kyiv, where he has chosen to remain even as Russian forces move on the city, thanked President Biden for his "personal involvement" and "sincere commitment to the defense of Ukraine," and the United States for the aid it has provided.

"However, now it is true in the darkest time for our country, for the whole Europe, I call on you to do more," Zelenskyy said.

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He also issued a direct message to President Biden.

"I'm addressing the President Biden," Zelenskyy said. "You, the leader of your nation, I wish you to be the leader of the world." 

He added: "Being the leader of the world means being the leader of peace." 

"Ladies and gentlemen, friends, Americans, in your great history, you have pages that would allow you to understand Ukrainians understand us right now, when we need you right now," he said. "Remember Pearl Harbor, terrible morning of December 7, 1941, when your sky was black from the planes attacking you. Just remember it."

Zelenskyy went on to invoke Sept. 11, 2001, calling it a "terrible day" when "independent territories" were turned into "battlefields," and "when innocent people were attacked—attacked from the air."

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a stand ovation from members of Congress before he addressed lawmakers Wednesday, March 16, 2022.  (Fox News)

"Yes, just like no one else expected. You could not stop it. Our country experienced the same every day," Zelenskyy said. "Right now at this moment, every night for three weeks now, various Ukrainian cities, Odesa and Kakutani, have been so many predominantly of Mariupol."

Zelenskyy said Russia has "turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people," saying there are missiles and "countless bombs."

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"They use drones to kill us with precision," he said. "This is a terror that Europe has not seen for 80 years, and we are asking for a reply—for an answer from this terror from the whole world." 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a virtual address to Congress by video at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2022.  (Drew Angerer, Pool via AP)

"Is this a lot to ask for, to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine to save people? Is this too much to ask? A humanitarian no-fly zone, something that Ukraine—that Russia would not be able to terrorize our free cities?" Zelenskyy pleaded.

"If this is too much to ask, we offer an alternative," Zelenskyy said, calling for air "powerful, strong" air systems to "protect our people, our freedom, our land."

"You know that they exist and you have them, but they are on earth," he said. "Not in Ukraine, not in the Ukrainian sky—they do not defend our people."

Invoking Martin Luther King Jr., Zelenskyy said: "I have a dream."

"These words are known to each of you. Today, I can say I have a need. A need to protect our sky. I need your decision, your help, which means exactly the same," he said. "The same you feel when you hear the words, I have a dream."

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., introduces Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to speak to the U.S. Congress by video at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2022.  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)

Pointing to World War II, Zelenskyy said that "the war of the past have prompted our predecessors to create institutions that should protect us from war, but, they unfortunately don’t work." 

"We see it. You see it. So we need new ones, new institutions, new alliances, and we are for them," Zelenskyy said. 

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He proposed "to create an association, United for Peace, a union of responsible countries that have the strength and consciousness to stop conflicts, immediately provide all the necessary assistance in 24 hours, if necessary—even weapons, if necessary, sanctions, humanitarian support, political support." 

"If such an alliance would exist today…we would be able to save thousands of lives in our country, in many countries of the world who need peace, those who suffer inhumane destruction," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said that it is "not enough to be the leader of a nation." 

"Takes to be the leader of the world, being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace," Zelenskyy said. "Peace in your country doesn't depend any more only on you and your people--It depends on those next to you and those who are strong." 

"Strong is brave and ready to fight for the survival of his citizens and the citizens of the world, for human rights, for freedom, for the right to live decently and to die when your time comes and not when it's wanted by someone else--by your neighbor," he continued. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a virtual address to Congress by video at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2022.  (Sarah Silbiger, Pool via AP)

Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian people are "fighting for the values of Europe and the world" and "sacrificing our lives in the name of the future." 

"That's why, today, the American people are helping not just Ukraine, but Europe and the world, to keep the planet alive, to keep justice in history," Zelenskyy said. 

Zelenskyy said he is 45-years-old, but said his age "stopped when the hearts of more than 100 children stopped beating." 

"I see no sense in life if I cannot stop the deaths," Zelenskyy said. "And this is my main issue and the leader of my people, great Ukrainians, and the leader of my nation." 

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Zelenskyy's plea comes as the White House has said a no-fly zone would be escalatory, and just hours before President Biden is set to announce an additional $800 million in military aid to Ukraine – on top of the $200 million that was announced Saturday. 

Members of Congress have stopped short of calling for a no-fly zone, with many echoing Biden’s concerns.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday said Biden "continues to believe that a no-fly zone would be escalatory, could prompt a war with Russia." 

"I don’t believe there is a lot of advocates calling for that at this point in time from Capitol Hill, but we certainly understand and recognize that is still a call from President Zelenskyy," Psaki said.

But a growing number of bipartisan lawmakers have been urging the Biden administration to facilitate a deal with Poland to send MiG-29 planes to Ukraine for additional air support as Russia continues its multifront war on the country.

The Pentagon last week rejected Poland’s proposal for the U.S. and NATO to deliver MiG-29 planes to the Ukrainian military, arguing that the move could be mistaken as "escalatory" and could result in "significant Russian reaction" that could increase the prospects of a military escalation with NATO. 

"We recognize there are a range of bipartisan calls, but what we have the responsibility to do here is to assess what the impact is on the United States and our own national security," Psaki said.

Ukraine is not a member of NATO, so it is not subject to the Article V provision of the NATO alliance that says when one member country is attacked, all member countries will take action to assist.

On Monday, the parliament of Estonia called for U.N. member states to "take immediate steps to establish a no-fly zone" over Ukraine to prevent further civilian casualties as war rages on.

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Estonia is the first NATO member nation to have a body formally call for the implementation of a no-fly zone amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Psaki said the White House disagrees with Estonia’s argument that a no-fly zone "would be an effective step because a no-fly zone, which often people shorthand, essentially means, shooting down Russian planes and then potentially shooting back at us."

Biden is set to travel to Brussels, Belgium, next week for a NATO summit to "discuss the ongoing deterrence and defense efforts in response to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine as well as to reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our NATO allies." 

Biden is also set to join a scheduled European Council Summit to discuss "shared concerns about Ukraine, including transatlantic efforts to impose economic costs on Russia, provide humanitarian support to those effected by the violence, and to address other challenges related to the conflict." 

The White House said Biden's "goal" is "to meet in person, face to face, with his European counterparts and talk about and assess where we are at this point in the conflict." 

"The president is a big believer in face-to-face diplomacy," Psaki said, adding that the summit is "an opportunity to do exactly that." 

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As for whether Biden will meet with Zelenskyy during his trip to Europe, Psaki said the White House is "still finalizing the trip at this point in time."

"The real focus right now is to meet with NATO partners in Brussels," Psaki said. "If there are additional steps, we'll share all those details with all of you."