John Podhoretz writes at the New York Post:

First, [Zelensky] wanted to show the world and Vladimir Putin that he, the representative of his stirring and brave nation, is not only surviving but has a fighting spirit and the tough and amused and charming demeanor of a world-historic winner.
Second, he wanted to make the case that support for Ukraine is not “charity,” as he told Congress. “It is an ­investment.”
Finally, he wanted to express his gratitude to the United States for leading the world in its commitment to the Ukrainian cause. And that is not only because it has saved and will save his country and millions who might die in the fight.
It is not only because he knows he will be returning to the well and seeking more aid to combat Putin. It is also because a Ukrainian triumph over Putin’s aggression should be viewed as an American cause because it will make Americans safer.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began 300 days before Zelensky’s arrival in our nation’s capital, shocked the world — all the more so because the world simply presumed that Russia could not be denied its prize once it had seized it.
But when Zelensky stayed in Kyiv and didn’t flee, and when the Ukrainians fought back with startling brio, and when the Russian tanks began to sink into the mud — all of which happened in the first week — it became clear it was something world-altering.
The most naked act of military criminality in decades was not going to be a cakewalk for the tyrant who initiated it. It was going to be something else.

In case you missed it, you can watch the full speech here:

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