Ukraine's Zelensky impresses, inspires Nevada's DC delegation

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky virtually addressed a joint session of Congress today as he sat in his embattled capital.

“I don't think there was a dry eye in the US Senate when that video was played when you saw Ukraine 30 days ago and you're seeing what's happening today,” Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada told me a short while later. She was referring to a dramatic video shown by Zelensky showing how the war has impacted his country.

Zelensky’s impact was bipartisan.

“Who wasn't, who wasn't, at the end of that going, you know, whatever we can do for this guy,” said Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada.

“They went from three weeks ago being a peaceful country to now seeing death and destruction all over their country,” says Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nevada.

Zelensky asked Congress and the White House today for more help.

“To create a no-fly zone over Ukraine to save people -is this too much to ask,” asked Zelensky.

“Well, I'm not for a no-fly zone, I'm not for a no-fly zone at this time. But what I have called on the President to do is to give access to those fighter jets working with and through our allies we can give access to those fighter jets,” Senator Rosen told me.

The deal to send Polish fighter jets to Ukraine appears dead, for now. President Biden has balked at a no-fly zone because it means NATO and US jets would enforce it, bringing with it the possibility of a US and NATO war with Russia.

“That's obviously a possibility but right now, continuing with the course that we've continued doesn't seem to be stopping civilian casualties that appears to be not accidents,” says Amodei. “I don't know whether the first step is real simple, we'll do a no-fly zone but it's like, you ought to start out with maybe some limited no-fly zones.”

Democrat Susie Lee says the situation in the three-week-old war is fluid, while outmanned Ukrainian forces appear to be putting up stiff resistance against Russian forces.

Earlier this week, Lee co-sponsored a bill that would stop Russia’s central bank from accessing its gold reserves to circumvent the massive economic sanctions imposed by western countries, including the United States.

Lee says she cannot sign on to a no-fly zone yet.

“I think that right now this all is a moving target,” she told me. She supported transferring the fighter jets to Ukraine, “and will continue to push to make sure we provide them with all the equipment that they need.”

“The U.S. stands with President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues to provide the humanitarian support and lethal aid Ukraine needs to stand up to Russia, and no economic measures should be off the table when it comes to isolating Putin,” says Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada.

“Putin’s warped vision of reuniting the Soviet Union must never be allowed to come to fruition and we must defend the resolve of the Ukrainian people in their fight against it,” says Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nevada. “I will, and we must, continue to advocate that the United States do everything it can to support Ukraine in this fight.”