Greetings, live blog readers. Happy two.
As we move into Day 19 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the Kremlin showing no sign of slowing down, there’s news from Washington: Volodymyr ZelenskyPresident UkraineShe will address Congress on Wednesday.
At the announcement of the address Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosiand Senate Majority Leader, Chuck SchumerHe said: “The Congress, our country and the world are in awe of the people of Ukraine, who have shown extraordinary courage, resilience and determination in the face of the fierce and illegal war waged by Russia without any provocation.
“As the war in Ukraine rages on, we invite all members of the House and Senate to attend a virtual address to the United States Congress, delivered by the President, with great respect and admiration for the Ukrainian people. Volodymyr Zelensky From Ukraine on Wednesday, March 16 at 9 am.
Democrats said the address would be open only to members of Congress.
Meanwhile, Congress is putting its weight on the Biden administration.
POLITICO Guide take note This morning on how lawmakers are letting the White House take charge of foreign policy matters, Republicans and Democrats have joined forces to push for a ban on Russian oil imports and an end to Russian trade ties.
Congress is now stepping up the pressure when it comes to the issue of combat aircraft in Poland. Zelensky He repeatedly appealed to his global partners to send aid in the form of combat aircraft. Poland has a cache of Soviet-style aircraft, and Polish officials said last week that they were available to Ukraine as soon as the United States was ready to make the transfer.
The United States has refrained from facilitating this transfer for a number of reasons – they may be coming from a NATO air base, and over the weekend Russia warned that it would regard any such delivery as an escalation.
But Rob PortmanThe Republican senator from Ohio spoke to CNN from the Ukraine-Polish border on Sunday and noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin It also described the sanctions as an “act of war.”
CNN
(CNN)“I don’t understand why we don’t do that.” Tweet embed Says Tweet embed He supports Poland and other NATO allies providing fighter jets to the Ukrainians despite the objections of the Biden administration. # I downloaded Tweet embed pic.twitter.com/aZ5xK1UKmL
Stay tuned for more.
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