MUNICH — At the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for international support for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
Zelenskyy’s comments came just one day after the death of Alexey Navalny, a harsh critic of Russian Vladimir Putin while in custody at a Siberian prison on Friday.
The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District said that Navalny “felt unwell” after taking a walk Friday and “almost immediately lost consciousness”.
Vice President Kamala Harris stood side by side with Zelenskyy, calling on U.S. senators to pass aid to Ukraine.
“We need to do our part. And we have been very clear that the United States Congress must act,” Harris told NBC News.
“This is a moment where America has the ability to actually demonstrate through action where we stand on issues like this, which is, do we stand with our friends in the face of extreme brutality or not? And I say we stand with our friends.”
“Ukrainians have been holding for 724 days,” Zelenskyy said at the conference.
There is no Plan B if Congress does not approve aid, Harris added. “There’s only Plan A, which is to ensure that Ukraine receives what it needs.”
Responding to the death of Navalny on Friday, President Joe Biden said he “hopes to God it helps” push Congress into approving further support for Ukraine.
The pleas come after House Speaker Mike Johnson called an early 2-week recess without approving the Ukraine aid.
“It’s about time they step up, don’t you think?” Biden said Friday. “Instead of going on a two-week vacation.”
“Two weeks, they’re walking away. Two weeks,” Biden continued, raising his voice. “What are they thinking? My God, this is bizarre, and it’s just reinforcing all of the concern and almost – I won’t say panic – but real concern about the United States being a reliable ally. This is outrageous.”
