Rubin: Zelenskyy’s speech should prompt U.S. to act

Despite the astonishing skill of Ukraine’s army and civilian volunteers in holding off the Russian ground attack, Putin’s forces are deliberately slaughtering Ukrainian civilians from the air. Their goal: to terrorize the country and force Zelenskyy to surrender.

“I have a dream,” Zelenskyy told Congress. “I have a need. I need to protect our sky. I need your decision, your help.”

The Ukrainian leader appears to have given up his goal of a NATO no-fly zone over Ukraine. Biden once again rejected that request Wednesday; both parties in Congress, as well as other NATO countries, have nixed it.

Even Zelenskyy’s request for a “humanitarian no-fly zone” over western Ukraine — which remains relatively peaceful and a refuge for millions of fleeing Ukrainians — has been rejected. The White House and NATO have let Putin’s nuclear blackmail rule this out.

“If this is too much to ask,” Zelenskyy said, “we offer an alternative. You know what kind of defense systems we need. S-300 (a Russian-made air defense system) and other similar systems.”

The good news is that the Biden administration is working hard to locate and transfer S-300 systems from other NATO members that possess them and might be willing to offer them to Ukraine. Yet progress is slow, as Russian missiles wreak more destruction daily.

While the Biden team and Congress should be commended for its large new package of military aid, more must be done immediately to save Ukraine. Most urgently, the mindset in Washington must change.

When the war started, the expectation was that Russian forces would swiftly conquer Ukraine. Ukrainian bravery and the skill of its armed forces changed that. Now Russian military failures, and Zelenskyy’s brilliant leadership, have led to speculation that Ukraine might “win.”

But a desperate, angry Putin is throwing all of his manpower and conventional weapons into destroying Ukraine. A destroyed Ukraine may even suit Putin better than an occupation, which Russian forces aren’t capable of carrying out.

The White House can’t afford to permit Putin to “succeed” in this fashion.

Instead, the administration must undertake a full-court press to get Zelenskyy S-300s, armed drones and anti-ship missiles to save the Port of Odesa. And, without publicity, get MIG-29s to Ukraine. If Zelenskyy says he needs them, I believe him over Pentagon claims that he does not.

Yes, Ukraine could “win” — by compelling Putin to pull back and declare victory — but only if Washington shows a bipartisan determination to help Zelenskyy in the immediate future. That’s the only appropriate response to Zelenskyy’s brave, brilliant speech.