PRESS RELEASE : Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a zoom conference with US congressmen

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 5 March 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with representatives of both chambers and both parties of the US Congress in the format of an online conference.

In total, more than 200 politicians joined the conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to hear first-hand about the situation in Ukraine and ask questions.

The President spoke about the situation in the country, the course of hostilities. In particular, he focused on war crimes committed by the Russian army: the shelling of schools, residential buildings, kindergartens, churches. The Head of State noted that the Babyn Yar memorial was damaged by rocket fire, as a result of which civilians died.

Separately, Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised the issue of threats to the environment of Ukraine and Europe. According to him, the invaders pose a threat to chemical and nuclear facilities. They have already captured two nuclear power plants and are moving in the direction of the third – South Ukraine NPP.

“Cynicism is of such scale that they did not let firefighters into the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. We could not negotiate with uneducated people who are in the Middle Ages,” the President said.

He added that there are 15 nuclear units on the territory of Ukraine, each of which could potentially become the new Chornobyl.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy told congressmen that Ukraine needs security in the sky to protect civilians and critical infrastructure. This can be ensured by closing the airspace over Ukraine or supplying our country with Soviet-made aircraft from the countries that still operate them.

The President also called for further sanctions against Russia. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, additional effective sanctions would be an embargo on imports of all Russian products and deprivation of MFN status.

During the conversation, the congressmen asked Volodymyr Zelenskyy their questions and promised to provide all possible assistance to Ukraine.