In historic address, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy tells Congress: ‘We are united … the entire free world’

Closing his speech, Zelenskyy quoted late President Franklin D. Roosevelt and gifted a battle flag signed by soldiers to Congress as lawmakers debate additional funding to Ukraine.

“‘The American people, in their might, will win to absolute victory.’ The Ukrainian people will win too, absolutely,” he said to applause.

“I know that everything depends on us, on Ukrainian armed forces, yet so much depends on the world. So much in the world depends on you,” he told lawmakers. “When I was in Bakhmut yesterday, our heroes gave me the flag, the battle flag, the flag of those who defend Ukraine, Europe and the world at the cost of their lives.”

He said soldiers gave him the flag to bring to U.S. lawmakers, “whose decisions can save millions of people.”

“So let this decision be taken, let this flag stay with you, ladies and gentlemen. This flag is a symbol of our victory in this war. We stand, we fight and we will win because we are united, Ukraine, America and the entire free world,” he said, handing the flag to Pelosi.

She then gifted Zelenskyy a folded and framed U.S. flag that had flown over the Capitol on Wednesday in honor of his visit. He held it aloft, to more applause, and then exited the chamber shortly afterward.