Zelenskyy asked USA for air defence as an alternative to closing the sky

Roman Petrenko – Wednesday, 16 March 2022, 15:38

In an address before the US Congress, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine asked the USA for air defence systems to close the sky over Ukraine.

Source: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his Congressional address

According to Zelenskyy: "Russia has turned the sky over Ukraine into a source of death. For thousands of people.

Russian troops have already launched almost a thousand missiles on Ukraine. Innumerable air bombs.

They are using drones to target their attacks. This is terror of a magnitude not seen by Europe in the last 80 years.

And we are asking for a response. A response from the world. A response to the terror.

To create a no-fly zone over Ukraine is to save lives. A humanitarian no-fly zone. Conditions under which Russia will not be able to terrorise our peaceful cities every day and every night.

If this is too much to ask for, we are offering an alternative.

You know what defence systems we require. S-300 and other similar systems. You know how much depends on an ability to deploy aviation, powerful aviation, in the battlefield.

To protect your people. Your freedom. Your land. Planes that can help Ukraine. That can help Europe.

And you also know that they [these planes] exist. But they are grounded. They are not in Ukrainian skies. They are not protecting our people.

‘I have a dream,’ – each of you knows these words. Today I can say: I have a need. The need to protect our sky. The need for your decision. Your help. And this will mean exactly the same. The same as what you feel when you hear: ‘I have a dream’."