Ukraine President Zelenskyy addresses U.S. Congress

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the U.S. Congress and directly to President Joe Biden to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

Lawmakers gave him a standing ovation, before and after his short remarks, which Zelenskyy began in Ukrainian through an interpreter but then switched to English in a heartfelt appeal to help end the bloodshed.

"Peace in your country doesn’t depend anymore only on you and your people. It depends on those next to you. And those who are strong. Strong doesn’t mean big. Strong is brave and ready to fight for the right of his citizens and citizens of the world, of human rights for freedom, for the right to live decently and to die when your time comes," Zelenskyy said.

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Appearing in his now-trademark army green T-shirt as he appeals to world leaders, Zelenskyy has emerged as a heroic figure at the center of what many view as the biggest security threat to Europe since World War II. Almost 3 million refugees have fled Ukraine, the fastest exodus in modern times.

"Now, I’m almost 45 years old today, my age stopped when the hearts of more than 100 children stopped beating. I see no sense in life if it cannot stop the deaths. And this is my main mission as the leader of my people, great Ukranians. And as the leader of my nation, I’m addressing President Biden, you are the leader of the nation, of your great nation. I wish you could be the leader of the world. Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace," Zelenskyy said.

President Joe Biden is expected to announce an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine, according to a White House official.

That would bring the total announced in the last week alone to $1 billion. It includes money for anti-armor and air-defense weapons, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.