Over 280 senators, House members and staff attended the virtual meeting which lasted just under an hour.
Over 280 senators, House members and staff attended the virtual meeting which lasted just under an hour.
Two people with knowledge of the call told NBC News that Zelenskyy spoke on the call first, followed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), then Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), the co-chairs of the Senate Ukraine caucus.
Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for the military aid provided by the US so far, but appealed for more. He reportedly asked for more planes, drones and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. He also urged the US to completely ban imports of Russian oil and target ordinary Russian citizens with sanctions, saying they needed to feel the pain of sanctions given how much ordinary Ukrainian people are suffering.
Zelenskyy also brought up Ukraine’s 15 nuclear power plant, saying it will “become Europe’s problem” if US and NATO countries don’t take additional action. He pleaded for a no-fly zone, which has been met with stiff resistance in the West, calling those who opposed it “weak” and “insecure”. A no-fly zone would create a direct military confrontation with Russia and is portrayed as the catalyst to World War 3.
Schumer pledged to get $10 billion in economic, humanitarian and security assistance to the Ukrainian people “quickly.” After the call, many in attendance took to Twitter to pledge support for further military aid.