Pelosi leads Congressional delegation to meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led a Congressional delegation to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
Pelosi is now the highest-ranking U.S. politician to visit Ukraine during the war, a trip that comes as Russia's refocused military campaign in the country's east struggles to make significant gains.
“We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom,” Pelosi said during a meeting with Ukrainian officials, according to a video posted to Zelenskyy's official Telegram account early Sunday. “Your fight is a fight for everyone, and so our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done.”
Zelenskyy said he was “very grateful for this powerful signal of support.”
Those with Pelosi on the trip, which was not previously announced, included Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
The surprise visit adds to growing momentum for the West's support for Ukraine as Russia's invasion struggles and both sides appear to be settling in for a prolonged conflict.
Related video: Pressure mounts on Biden administration ahead of Ukraine visit (TODAY)
The trip is the second major visit from American officials in the span of a week. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Zelenskyy last Sunday and made fresh promises of military and diplomatic support.
The U.S. and many countries in Europe have pledged to send a variety of defensive weapons to help Ukraine hold off Russian advances.
Russia has not taken those developments lightly.
Escalating rhetoric from the Kremlin and state media, combined with a move to cut off gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria, have pushed analysts to worry that Ukraine is now just one part of a multi-front struggle between Russia and the West.
Pelosi said in a statement posted to the speaker's website that the trip was meant "to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine."
The delegation will now keep traveling in Poland to meet with President Andrzej Duda, it said, adding that the trip would help inform coming legislation meant to further support Ukraine.
President Joe Biden asked Congress on Thursday for a new $33 billion Ukraine aid package.
"[Zelenskyy] conveyed the clear need for continued security, economic and humanitarian assistance from the United States to address the devastating human toll taken on the Ukrainian people by Putin’s diabolic invasion," Pelosi said, "and our delegation proudly delivered the message that additional American support is on the way, as we work to transform President Biden’s strong funding request into a legislative package."
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