Zelenskyy Gets Hanukkah Hero’s Welcome at White House
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a warm welcome from US President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday, with comparisons to the Maccabee heroes of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah that is currently being celebrated.
During his press conference with @ZelenskyyUa, @POTUS invokes the 4th night of Hanukkah when we "honor the small band of warriors fighting for their values and their freedom against the much larger foe. And how they endured and how they overcame." The story of survival. pic.twitter.com/rIKdR4kod5
— Shelley Greenspan (@ShelleyGspan) December 22, 2022
The last-minute visit to Washington, DC, Zelenskyy’s first trip abroad since Russia invaded his country in February, appeared to be a signal that the alliance between Ukraine and the West was still strong after almost a year of war.
Speaking at a packed Capitol before a joint session of Congress, the Ukrainian leader also lambasted “genocidal” Iran for allying with Russia in its invasion of his country. Russia is using Iranian drones to strike at Ukraine’s vital infrastructure, aiming to leave millions without power or water during the bitter Ukrainian winter.
“Iranian deadly drones sent to Russia in the hundreds became a threat to our critical infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said in his address in a speech in English punctuated by strong applause. “That is how one terrorist has found the other.”
Zelenskyy also had a warning for the listening American politicians that Russia would not be satisfied with attacking just Ukraine.
“It is just a matter of time when they will strike against your other allies if we do not stop them now,” Zelenskyy warned. “We must do it.”
