Associated Press

Zelenskyy thanks ‘every American,’ sees ‘turning point’

AP
Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., applaud as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds an American flag that was gifted to him by Pelosi after he addressed a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday.

10:29 JST, December 22, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked “every American” for their support of Ukraine as he delivered an address to Congress on Wednesday aimed at sustaining U.S. and allied support for his country’s defense against Russia’s brutal invasion.

Zelenskyy called U.S. support vital to Ukraine’s efforts to beat back Russia, and thanked lawmakers and everyday citizens for tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance over the last year.

The Ukrainian leader predicted that next year would be a “turning point” in the conflict, “when Ukrainian courage and American resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom — the freedom of people who stand for their values.”

Zelenskyy received thunderous applause from members of Congress and presented lawmakers with a Ukrainian flag autographed by front-line troops in Bakhmut, in Ukraine’s contested Donetsk province, which was held up behind him on the rostrum by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris.