WARSAW, Poland (AP) – A US congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the courage of the Ukrainian people during a visit to Poland on Sunday, a day after US lawmakers made a surprise trip to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
US lawmakers have assessed Ukraine’s needs for the next phase of the war, with Pelosi promising that Washington will stand by the country until it defeats Russia’s invasion of its territory.
Pelosi, a Democrat from California who is second in the presidency after the vice president, was the highest-ranking U.S. lawmaker to visit Ukraine since the start of the war in Russia more than two months ago. Her previously unannounced visit came just days after Moscow bombed the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, while the UN secretary-general was there.
Pelosi and half a dozen U.S. lawmakers met with Zelensky and his top aides three hours later Saturday to get a first-hand assessment of military efforts so far. Speaking to reporters in Poland on Sunday, members of the delegation were unanimous in praising Ukraine’s defense so far, describing one’s battle as good against evil and providing long-term long-term US military, humanitarian and economic support.
“We were proud to convey to him the message of unity from the United States Congress, a message of gratitude from the American people for their leadership and admiration from the people of Ukraine for their courage,” Pelosi said.
The visit came two days after US President Joe Biden asked Congress for $ 33 billion to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia, more than double the amount of the original $ 13.6 billion aid measure initially passed by Congress. last month and is now almost exhausted. As the war dragged on for three months, the measure was intended to signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that American weapons and other forms of aid are not disappearing.
“This is a time when we are upholding democracy or allowing autocracy to rule the day,” said Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York.
“This is a struggle for freedom against tyranny,” said Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California. “Ukraine is at the forefront of this struggle as well.
Member of Parliament Jason Crowe, a Colorado Democrat, a veteran and a member of the House Intelligence and Armed Services Committee, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: “Weapons, Weapons and Weapons.”
“We need to make sure that Ukrainians have what they need to win. What we’ve seen in the last two months is their ferocity, their strong pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support. “
“The United States is in favor of winning, and we will stay with Ukraine until victory is won,” he added.
The full congressional delegation included Meeks, who chaired the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Schiff, who chairs the intelligence committee of the House of Representatives; Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, who chairs the House Rules Committee; Crow, Barbara Lee of California; and Bill Keating of Massachusetts.
“You are all welcome,” Zelenski told the delegation, according to a video from the meeting.
Pelosi told Zelenski: “We believe that we are visiting you to thank you for your struggle for freedom.
“We are on the verge of freedom and your struggle is a battle for all. Our commitment is to be with you until the battle is over, “Pelosi added.
The delegation continued its trip to southeastern Poland and visited the capital, Warsaw, to meet with President Andrzej Duda and other senior officials. Poland has received more than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia began its war on February 24th.
“We look forward to thanking our Polish allies for their dedication and humanitarian efforts,” Pelosi said.
Speaking at a press conference in Poland, Pelosi said she and others in the delegation welcomed the courage of the Ukrainian people. She added that the delegation brought Zelensky a “message of gratitude from the American people for their leadership”.
McGovern said the Russian war had far-reaching consequences beyond Ukraine, saying it was exacerbating the global food crisis, which would be devastating for poor people around the world.
“Putin’s brutal war is no longer just a war against the people of Ukraine,” McGovern said. “It’s also a war against the world’s most vulnerable.”
He added that Ukraine is “the breadbasket of the world”.
“I don’t think Putin cares if he’s starving the world,” McGovern said.
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This story was corrected to show that Pelosi was second in the presidency, not third, and corrected the spelling of the name of Ukrainian President Vladimir.
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