Zelenskyy Center Stage: Facing Congress, Pleading for Help

Associated PressPublished: March 16, 2022

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 15: Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and attendees applaud after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed them by video link during a meeting of the leaders of the the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a coalition of 10 states focused on security in northern Europe, at Lancaster House on March 15, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. The Joint Expeditionary Force, (JEF) is a UK-led multilateral framework for defence cooperation formed by ten countries. In addition to the United Kingdom, the group includes Finland, The Netherlands, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia. Their aim is to develop military capabilities through joint exercises, prevent various crises and act together in crisis situations. JEF's main operating environment is Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region. (Photo by Justin Tallis - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

By LISA MASCARO, AP Congressional Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the U.S. Congress — the next stop as the actor-turned-wartime leader uses the Western world's great legislative bodies as a global stage to help his country.

Zelenskyy is rallying support against Russia's crushing invasion.

The speech Wednesday will be livestreamed into the U.S. Capitol and will be among Zelenskyy's most important as he pushes the U.S. to do more than it has pledged so far.

President Joe Biden has resisted Zelenskyy's requests to send warplanes to Ukraine, which would risk escalating the war with Russia. Instead, Biden is expected to deliver an address later Wednesday announcing $800 million in additional security assistance for Ukraine.

Ukraine and the World's Response to Russia's Attack - February 24, 2022 to Present

The following images help document Russia's invasion of Urkaine, and the world's response. The reader is STRONGLY CAUTIONED that this gallery CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES, some of which include IMAGES OF DEATH. As of March 5, 2022 the gallery includes images that are not suitable for all readers. The reader is cautioned not to view this gallery without discretion.