Zelensky in the footsteps of Winston Churchill, the speech in the American Congress comes 81 years after that of the British Prime Minister

A merciless war had engulfed Europe. In the midst of the conflict, a famous leader made a perilous journey across the Atlantic to address the most powerful leaders of the United States directly.

It was December 1941 when Winston Churchill stood before the US Congress and delivered a 30-minute speech that would go down in history as one of the most important visits to Washington by a foreign leader.

81 later, Congress welcomed another high-profile wartime leader, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country has endured 10 months of bombing by Russia.

"Another historic leader addresses Congress at a time of war," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi noted Wednesday, "with democracy itself on the line."

Churchill invades Washington

World War II had already elevated Churchill to a global household name, synonymous with Britain's determined efforts to fend off Nazi Germany.

When he arrived in Washington in December 1941, the conflict had just arrived on America's doorstep. Less than three weeks earlier, Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor and President Franklin D. Roosevelt had declared war on the country, marking the belated entry of the US into World War II.

His presence in Washington caused a storm of emotions. He held a press conference with Roosevelt and even attended the lighting of the national Christmas tree. "Americans have grasped one of Winston Churchill's key characteristics — his ability to excite a crowd," The Washington Post reported.

After a hearty welcome, Churchill took off his glasses and began one of the most important speeches of his career. The prime minister emphasized the friendship with the United States, citing strong relations and cultural similarities between the two global powers. But he soon moved on to more somber topics.

"You do not underestimate, I am sure, the severity of the trial to which you and we must undergo," said Churchill. "The forces against us are great. They are bitter, they are merciless."

He continued to paint a grim picture of the Axis powers.

"Njerëzit e këqij dhe grupet e tyre, të cilët i kanë nisur popujt e tyre në rrugën e luftës dhe pushtimit. Ata nuk do të ndalen para asgjëje”, tha Churchill. "Ata kanë një grumbullim të madh të armëve luftarake të të gjitha llojeve. Ata kanë ushtri, marina dhe shërbime ajrore shumë të trajnuara dhe të disiplinuara. Ata kanë plane dhe plane që janë trilluar dhe maturuar prej kohësh. Ata nuk do të ndalen para asgjëje që mund të sugjerojë dhuna ose tradhtia".

Çurçill u përpoq të projektonte optimizëm se aleatët, tani me ndihmën e Shteteve të Bashkuara, mund të kthenin fatin e tyre në tre vitet e ardhshme.

Për armiqtë e tyre të Boshtit, Çurçill deklaroi se "ata nuk e kuptojnë se ne nuk do të pushojmë kurrë së ngulmuari kundër tyre derisa t'u jepet një mësim që ata dhe bota nuk do ta harrojnë kurrë". Atij iu desh të ndalonte fjalimin e tij për shkak të duartrokitjeve të fuqishme. Fjalimi i kryeministrit mori një mbulim të madh të nesërmen.

Zelensky ndjek hapat e Churchillit

Tetë dekada më vonë, vizita e befasishme e Zelensky në Uashington ka gjeneruar një stuhi të ngjashme mbulimi dhe pritjesh. Në jehonë të itinerarit të Churchill, ai u takua fillimisht me Presidentin Joe Biden përpara se të kalonte nëpër qytet për në Kapitolin e SHBA.

Ashtu si Çurçill, Zelenskit është konsideruar një hero për ata që mbështesin kauzën e vendit të tij. Në një fjalim virtual në muajin marsi në Kongres, Zelensky përloti ligjvënësit.

He also hopes for unity with the US, but this time in a sharply divided Washington. Zelensky faces a far more divided Congress than Churchill faced, and growing opposition from some Republicans to significant US military and financial support for Ukraine.

The stakes could not be higher for Zelensky, as he is expected to demand even more as the war with Russia drags on through a brutal winter. With history serving as his guide, however, Wednesday's speech could still be a pivotal moment in the conflict.

Source: BBC