In his address to Congress last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy implored the United States to provide the materiel he needs to hold off Russian invaders and to establish a “no-fly” zone to diminish Russian air power.

The Biden administration immediately delivered $800 million worth of anti-armor and anti-aircraft missiles, but will not — and should not — insert U.S. forces into the war by enforcing a no-fly zone.

Zelenskyy also asked for help that not only the government, but U.S. consumers, can provide.

”All American companies must leave Russia,” he said. “Leave their market immediately, because it is flooded with our blood.” He asked U.S. lawmakers “to make sure that the Russians do not receive a single penny that they use to destroy our people in Ukraine, the destruction of our country, the destruction of Europe. … Peace is more important than income.”

More than 150 U.S. companies already have announced their withdrawal from Russia. Another 160 have announced the suspension of their business activity in Russia, and 80 companies have said they will scale back their business there.

But according to the Yale University School of Management, at least 37 U.S. companies continue to conduct business as usual in Russia, thus supporting the war criminal Vladimir Putin’s unwarranted and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The Biden administration and Congress should identify those enterprises and determine the degree to which they would be able to diminish their Russia-based enterprises. Some companies, such as the Koch Industries subsidiary Guardian Glass, directly control their Russian enterprises, others such as Subway operate through independently owned franchises, and still others have partnerships.

The United States should suspend any tax benefits or business assistance that it provides to any company that continues to operate in Russia, until they withdraw.

— The Citizens’ Voice, Wilkes-Barre (TNS)