U.S. military assistance to Ukraine is not “charity” but “investment,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Congress Wednesday night Washington time in a speech to the Ukrainian-dominated plenary of both houses of parliament.

“I would like to thank you, thank you very much for the financial assistance you provided us, and you can decide,” the head of the Ukrainian state said. “Your money is not charity, it is an investment in global security and democracy, which we manage in the most responsible way.”

Ukraine “holds its ground and will never give up,” he said elsewhere in his speech to Congress as the war in the country, which began with Russia’s military invasion on Feb. 24, approaches 10 months.

Mr. Zelensky presented Congress with a Ukrainian flag from Bakhmut, one of the fronts where the most intense fighting is taking place. He said that it was given to him by “our heroes” when he was at the front the day before.

“When I was in Bahamut [την Τρίτη]our heroes gave me a flag, their flag, the banner of those who defend Ukraine, Europe and the world with their lives,” he said before handing over the Ukrainian national symbol with soldier’s signatures to outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the United States. President Kamala Harris as President of the US Senate.

Source: RES-IPE