Indy DC Download: House suspends normal trade status with Russia after Ukrainian president’s plea

The House revoked favorable free trade status from Russia and Belarus after hearing an impassioned plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for more military aid for his nation’s fight against Russia’s invasion.

Nevada lawmakers left Zelenskyy's virtual speech to Congress Wednesday impressed by the Ukrainian president and eager to provide aid for the Ukrainian cause. 

Zelenskyy “comes off as the blue-collar, resilient leader,” Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) said in an interview Friday. “His stock went off the charts after that speech.” 

Amodei didn’t mince words, saying that Russia has committed war crimes. He also framed the White House’s response as reactive rather than proactive. Amodei said the U.S. response could lead Ukrainians, who have fought bravely, to question the U.S.’s commitment to stand up against tyranny.

“What we’re doing now and the speed at which we're doing it leads to a ton of worry that when it comes right down to it, the United States is going to turn its back on Russian war crimes and appropriating a neighboring country,” Amodei said.

He also said the administration and its allies should consider a limited no-fly zone over part of Ukraine. The White House has been reluctant to enact a no-fly area over Ukraine due to concerns that it could directly pit American fighters against Russian aircraft and drag the U.S. into a war with Russia.

"There are ways to tailor it," Amodei said of no-fly zones to protect civilians or strategic areas. “Come up with something because right now it’s just a global ‘no.’” 

Following the speech, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would provide $800 million in military aid, including new drones and advanced anti-aircraft missiles.

In an interview Wednesday, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) said the speech underscored her belief that the U.S. must continue to provide Ukraine with lethal and humanitarian assistance. 

“It's just outrageous to see the devastation, the killing of innocent women and children, unprovoked by Ukraine,” Cortez Masto said. “I think it is important we do everything we can to support Zelenskyy.”

Cortez Masto was skeptical of establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, citing concerns about sucking the U.S. and its allies into a potentially more dangerous conflict with Russia.

She was open to supplying fighter jets to Ukraine but echoed concerns from the White House about not doing it in a provocative way. Poland had put forward a plan to send Soviet-era MIG-29 jets to Ukraine, but wanted to send them first to a U.S. base in Germany. The Pentagon declined the offer over escalation concerns. 

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) also was skeptical, saying the MIGs are too antiquated to help Ukraine against more advanced Russian weaponry.

“I support the administration looking at how we make that transfer,” Cortez Masto said of fighter jets.

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced Thursday that she would head to Poland and Germany over the weekend along with nine other senators. The group will meet with military leaders to get the latest on the war effort and glean what more can be done. 

Along with his speech, Zelenskyy showed the lawmakers a video of women, children and other civilians killed in Russia’s attack.

Speaking to MSNBC after the speech, Rosen said the images of the devastation and carnage in Ukraine bore a striking resemblance to archival footage from World War II. 

"It moved me to tears. I was speechless when I left the room," Rosen said.

She called for providing fighter jets, shutting down U.S. trade with Russia, and sanctioning the Moscow Stock Exchange, which has remained closed since the invasion began about three weeks ago.

“There are things we can do in every avenue to isolate President Putin and show him for the animal that he is,” Rosen said.