U.S. lawmakers are urged to ban Russian oil and provide fighter jets: Zelensky

Photo: By President.gov.ua

On March 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for U.S. lawmakers to bolster support for his country by banning oil from Russia, helping acquire fighter jets for the Ukrainian military, as well as imposing additional sanctions on Russian officials.

Over 280 Congressional members were in attendance at Zelensky's virtual meeting with bipartisan, bicameral leaders.

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, wrote on social media that blocking Russian oil and gas imports would be "even more effective than SWIFT."

Zelensky also requested combat anti-tank weapons, as well as assistance in getting Ukrainian pilots to use fighter jets that have been transferred to Ukraine by nearby countries to battle Russian fighters in the air, members of the call said.

Representative Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) wrote on social media, "His main request was that the U.S. allow Poland and Romania to donate Soviet-era jets to Ukraine and that it compensate those allies by giving more advanced aircraft."

“We need planes,” Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), a military veteran, recounted Zelensky saying. The Ukrainian president was also reported to have said that “we are all one big army now” that “the Ukrainian people are the embodiment of unity for democracy for the whole world now,” and “Please help us and please don’t allow our brave and strong people, many times smaller than Russia, to be exterminated.”

Congress might take action after the meeting some members agreed to approve an additional $10 billion in aid to Ukraine, pass legislation cutting off Russian oil purchases, and consider taking MasterCard and Visa payment services away from Russia.

5 March 2022