In Congress address, Zelensky expected to thank U.S. for support, press for more military assistance

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address Congress on Wednesday morning in a video speech in which he is expected to thank the U.S. for its support during Russia’s invasion but also continue his plea for more military assistance.

The actor-turned wartime leader has already made similar addresses to the British House of Commons and on Tuesday to the Canadian Parliament and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The invasion is now nearly three-weeks old, with Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and other major cities under relentless Russian missile attacks. 

Zelenskyy is expected to again ask Congress, as he has other the allied nations, to "close the sky" over Ukraine by imposing a no-fly zone over the country to thwart the deadly air attacks from neighboring Russia.

While such a maneuver has garnered some bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, President Biden and his administration have remained opposed over concerns it would further provoke Russian President Vladimir Putin and perhaps draw the U.S. into direct conflict with Russia.

The administration has for similar reasons also said no to the transferring of military jets from Poland. 

Biden will deliver his own address following Zelenskyy’s speech, in which he is expected to announce an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine, a White House official told the Associated Press.

That amount would bring the total just in the last week to $1 billion. It includes money for anti-armor and air-defense weapons, the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, also told the wire service.