On Wednesday, Olena Zelenska, spouse of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, addressed the U.S. Congress, urging the bipartisan legislators to provide the Ukrainian military with additional air defense weapons as Moscow’s full-scale incursion of the post-Soviet state nears its 148th day. In a brief but emotional address, the Ukrainian first lady spoke about the more and more terrible economic, security, and humanitarian situation in her country.

Ms. Zelenska delivered her speech to Congressional members from the same room that her husband Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, did in March. He appeared virtually and was welcomed with three standing ovations from the US legislators. At the time, Mr. Zelenskyy requested Washington to impose a no-flight zone over his country to halt the Russian air strikes.

At the U.S. Capitol, the wife of the Ukrainian leader said that, unfortunately, the brutal war isn’t over; the terror continues and appeals to all of US lawmakers, on behalf of those who have lost their lives, as a spokesperson for quadruple amputees, on behalf of all survivors, and those who are waiting for their family members to return. She told Congress that she’s requesting for something now she’d never want to request. She added that she’s requesting for arms to resist Russian attacks.

Additionally, pointing to the fifteen security assistance packages committed thill now, the Ukrainian first lady expressed gratitude to Americans for the military, economic and humanitarian assistance Washington had already provided to the brave people and military forces of Ukraine. She also said that while Russia destroys, the U.S. saves and Ukrainians express gratitude for that.

America to Send 4 Additional HIMARS to Ukraine

Earlier on July 20, Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, said that America would give four additional M142 HIMARS to Kyiv in the coming package of military aid to defend itself against Moscow’s assaults, which would be formally declared later in the week.

Earlier in the week, Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu, Russia’s Minister of Defense, ordered top military officials to line up destroying long-range artillery after West-delivered arms were utilized to hit Russian military supply lines.

The US and its allies have pledged to transfer more than 20 HIMARS to Ukraine. 12 are already on the frontlines. 200 Ukrainians were trained to use the vehicles.
Source: Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army. pic.twitter.com/qlXZLSlYso

— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) July 20, 2022

Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said nearly two hundred Ukrainian personnel had been given provided training on the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and not even a single system had been destroyed by the Putin-led military.