Zelenskyy Shares Ukaine's Challenges on Multiple Fronts in War Against Russia
Ask students: How does Zelenskyy describe the situation in Ukraine? How much U.S. military assistance for Ukraine is being debated by members of Congress?
Ukraine is facing challenges on multiple fronts, from critical shortages of munitions and manpower to Russia ramping up its attacks. It comes amid uncertainty around future aid from the U.S. Amna Nawaz sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss that and more.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who is Volodymyr Zelenskyy?
- Where is Ukraine? Where is Russia? Where are the NATO states located? (see map; Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024) have since joined the alliance)
- When did Russia first attack Ukraine? How long has the war been going on?
- How does Zelenskyy describe the situation in Ukraine? How much U.S. military assistance for Ukraine is being debated by members of Congress?
- What will the aid be used for?
- Why does Zelenskyy say he needs military aid from the U.S.?
Focus Questions
"To date, we have provided approximately $44.2 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its premeditated, unprovoked and brutal full-scale invasion against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and more than $47 billion in military assistance since Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014." — U.S. State Department
Do you think the U.S. should provide more military assistance to Ukraine? Why or why not?
Media literacy: What is the Biden administration's stance on aid to Ukraine? Members of Congress? How about the American public?
Extension Activity
Elected officials engage in many different types of political strategizing. This is a key part of their job. Watch the video below and answer the following questions.
- Why do you think Zelenskyy used the analogy to the Israel-Iran attacks in order try to convince the U.S. that it should give more money to Ukraine?
- Does Zelenskyy mention that Iran was acting in a retaliatory way in its drone attacks after its top military advisers were killed at the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1? Why or why not?
- Do you see Zelenskyy's argument as effective? Why or why not?
Understanding the War in Ukraine
Learn more about the crisis unfolding in Ukraine with resources we've gathered on this developing topic.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of NewsHour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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