KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led a congressional delegation to Kyiv to satisfy with Ukraine’s president earlier than heading to Poland for talks with officers there on Sunday.
Pelosi, a California Democrat who’s second in line to the presidency after the vice chairman, is probably the most senior American lawmaker to go to Ukraine since Russia’s war started greater than two months in the past. Her go to to Kyiv on Saturday marks a significant present of constant help for the nation’s wrestle towards Moscow.
“Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to ship an unmistakable and resounding message to your complete world: America stands firmly with Ukraine,” Pelosi stated in a press release launched Sunday.
Footage launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s workplace confirmed Pelosi and different U.S. legislators in Kyiv. In video later launched by Pelosi’s workplace, the speaker and Zelenskyy each thanked one another for his or her help within the battle.
“We’ll win and we’ll win collectively,” Zelenskyy stated.
Pelosi added: “We’re right here till victory is received.”
The total congressional delegation included Democratic Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York who chairs the Home International Affairs Committee; Adam Schiff, of California who chairs the Home Intelligence Committee; Jim McGovern of Massachusetts who chairs the Home Guidelines Committee; Jason Crow of Colorado; Barbara Lee of California; and Invoice Keating of Massachusetts.
“You all are welcome,” Zelenskyy instructed the delegation.
Pelosi instructed Zelenskyy: “We consider that we’re visiting you to say thanks on your battle for freedom.”
“We’re on a frontier of freedom and your battle is a battle for everybody. Our dedication is to be there for you till the battle is completed,” Pelosi added.
The go to wasn’t beforehand introduced.
The delegation continued its journey in southeast Poland, and Pelosi stated they’d later go to the capital, Warsaw, to satisfy with President Andrzej Duda and different senior officers. Poland has obtained greater than 3 million refugees from Ukraine since Russia launched its battle on Feb. 24.
“We sit up for thanking our Polish allies for his or her dedication and humanitarian efforts,” she stated.
In a information convention in Poland, Pelosi stated she and others within the delegation applauded the braveness of the Ukrainian folks. She added that the delegation introduced Zelenskyy “a message of appreciation from the American folks for his management.”
Schiff stated the U.S. lawmakers had a three-hour assembly with Zelenskyy and his administration, speaking about sanctions, weapons and help help. Schiff promised that intelligence sharing would proceed between Ukraine and the U.S.
“It is a wrestle of freedom towards tyranny,” Schiff stated. “And in that wrestle, Ukraine is on the entrance strains.”
McGovern stated Russia’s battle had repercussions far past Ukraine, saying it was exacerbating a meals disaster that will be disastrous for poor folks throughout the globe.
“Putin’s brutal battle is not solely a battle towards the folks of Ukraine,” McGovern stated. “It’s additionally a battle towards the world’s most susceptible.”
He added that Ukraine is a “breadbasket of the world.”
“I don’t suppose that Putin cares if he starves the world,” McGovern stated.
A earlier model of this story was corrected to indicate that Pelosi is second in line to the presidency, not third.
Extra AP protection of the battle at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
