Zelenskyy’s emotional, direct Zoom plea to Congress: No-fly zone, Russian oil ban, more military aid

The credit card companies said they were suspending operations in Russia.

Zelenskyy was praised by lawmakers after the meeting ended.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that President Zelenskyy made a desperate plea for Eastern European countries to provide Russian-made planes to Ukraine. I will help the administration facilitate their transfer.

Zelenskyy's call for a no-fly zone has been met with stiff resistance from the West because it would put the U.S. in a direct military conflict with Russia. Setting up a no-fly zone would cause World War III because it would lead to the shooting-down of Russian planes by the U.S. and NATO allies, according to Sen. Marco Rubio.

Zelenskyy continues to argue that it would help alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Those who participated in his call with lawmakers on Saturday said that it was the biggest request he made.

Despite growing bipartisan support for the idea, the Biden administration has resisted banning Russian oil imports. The White House believes that an embargo would reduce the global supply of oil and lead to higher gas prices for Americans. According to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, the U.S. imported 3 percent of its oil from Russia in 2011.