What will he say? Zelensky has repeatedly asked American and European lawmakers for more equipment, military weapons and aircraft especially to help fight the invading Russians. And he has stressed a need for swift and painful economic sanctions for Russia and nations which support it.
 
The U.S. specifically has so far refused one of his top requests: help to secure the skies over Ukraine.
 
Zelensky would like Western countries to enforce a “no-fly zone,” but understands that there is fear in NATO that this could lead to a wider war. If a no-fly zone is not possible, Zelensky is pressing for more jet fighters. And this is where his address tomorrow could hit a key division among American politicians:

• Poland has offered to give its aging fleet of Russian-made MIG fighters to Ukraine — but only if other NATO countries did the actual handoff and if the U.S. replaced Poland’s older jets with new ones.
• The Pentagon and White House have refused the deal so far. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who initially seemed warm to the idea of getting more planes to Ukraine, said last week: “The prospect of fighter jets at the disposal of the United States government departing from a U.S. NATO base in Germany to fly into airspace contested with Russia over Ukraine raises some serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance.”
• Congress is divided, with a growing number of calls from lawmakers for the U.S. to do more to help Ukraine's military.

More on the war in the Ukraine from our latest coverage:

• Watch: Russian attacks – and the death toll – continue to climb. Protests also continue in Russia. Special correspondent Jane Ferguson has been reporting from Ukraine.
• One Big Question: Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are calling for more support for Ukraine. How real is that agreement between the parties on foreign policy? Tamara Keith and Amy Walter weigh in.
• How to Help: Nearly 10 percent of Ukraine's population has been displaced into almost three weeks of the war. Here’s how you can help people in Ukraine and the refugees fleeing the conflict.
• How to Help, Continued: The NewsHour’s Frances Kai-Hwa Wang reached out to educators for tips on how to help young people cope with ongoing news about Ukraine and Russia.
• One Quick Tidbit: Several U.S. brands, including McDonald’s, are suspending their businesses in Russia. The Golden Arches was the first American fast-food restaurant to enter the Soviet Union after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. The moment even gave rise to a political theory that if two countries have McDonald’s in them, they won’t go to war. However, that theory ended when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

 
A SPRING FORWARD INTO THE POLITICAL CALENDAR
By Joshua Barajas, @Josh_Barrage
Senior Editor, Digital
 
Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews
Correspondent
 
The first day of spring is this Sunday, providing an opportunity to look ahead at some major dates in the political calendar:

March 20: Spring equinox. We mention it again because we like positive, constructive things.
 

Next week: Confirmation hearings begin for Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated for the high court. She will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Here is your schedule:

March 24: One month since Russia invaded Ukraine. This is a date to watch for lawmakers who want the United States to do more, including military aid, to help Ukraine.
 
March 31: Medicare providers get 1 percent cut in payments due to budget sequestration.  This will rise to 2 percent in July. These have been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, and a host of medical groups, from hospitals to radiologists, are asking to push them further as COVID-19 demands persist. At the moment, there are no plans to move this date. 
 
Week of April 4: Final Senate vote for Jackson. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has said to expect a confirmation vote on Jackson before the chamber takes a two-week break for Easter and Passover. Jackson has been confirmed by the Senate three times before for other federal positions.
 
April 11 to 22: Congress is on a two-week holiday recess out of Washington. So keep an eye out for them in your communities. (Here’s a good website for tracking town halls!)
 
May 1: Student loan payments restart. Without further action, federal student loan payments will be required again, beginning in May. But, a recent order from the Department of Education to loan companies suggests that the nation’s collective $1.6 trillion student loan debt could be, may be, possibly frozen — no payments required — again.
 
May 3: The next round of 2022 state primary elections begin in early May, with Senate and governor races in Indiana and Ohio. Midterm contests continue in several other states throughout the month, including the heavily watched May 24 Senate, governor and congressional elections in Georgia.


#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Tess Conciatori, @tkconch
White House Producer
 
Mattel – one of the growing number of U.S. companies that have announced changes to operations in Russia – has been releasing dolls modeled after historical figures as part of its “Inspiring Women” series. The collection includes dolls of journalist Ida B. Wells, civil rights legend Rosa Parks, and astronaut and physicist Sally Ride.
 
Our question: Who is the only first lady to have a Barbie doll named after her?
 
Send your answers to [email protected] or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.
 
Last week, we asked: Which U.S. president issued the first proclamation that declared the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week?
 
The answer: Jimmy Carter. He designated March 2 to 8, 1980, as National Women's History Week. (And yes, that was back-to-back Carter trivia.)
 
Congratulations to our winners: Jackie Austin, Dean Gottehrer, and Mary Kay and Ron Graver!
 
Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your inbox next week.