ZELENSKY PLEADS WITH U.S. FOR MORE PLANES WHILE PUTIN WARNS WEST AGAINST NO-FLY ZONES

#zelensky #fly-zones #ukrainewar

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a "desperate plea" to U.S. senators to send more planes on Saturday, while Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over Ukraine as "participation in the armed conflict."

Zelensky made the request on a call joined by more than 300 people, including U.S. senators, some House lawmakers, and aides.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said in a statement he will do "all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer."

Schumer told Zelensky the U.S. lawmakers are inspired by him and by the strength and courage of the Ukrainian people, according to another person on the call who was granted anonymity to discuss it.

The U.S. Congress is also working on a $10-billion US package of military and humanitarian aid, and Schumer told Zelensky that lawmakers hope to send it to Ukraine quickly, the person on the call said.