Pelosi Meets Zelensky In Kyiv, Vows Help In War vs Putin

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv as she led the first official US congressional delegation to visit since the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022, the New York Times reported.

Photo Insert: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands during the former's visit to the war-torn country's capital, Kyiv.

The trip follows a visit a week ago by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, who discussed an expanded US commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, Adam Taylor and Bryan Pietsch reported for the Washington Post.

Reporting for the Associated Press (AP), Vanessa Gera said Pelosi praised the courage of the Ukrainian people in remarks during a visit to Poland on Sunday, a day after her secret journey to Kyiv to meet with Zelensky.

The American legislators assessed Ukraine’s needs for the next phase of the war, with Pelosi vowing that Washington would stand with the country until it defeats Russia.

Pelosi, a California Democrat who is second in line to the presidency after the vice president, was the most senior American lawmaker to visit Ukraine since Russia’s war began more than two months ago.

Her previously unannounced visit came just days after Moscow bombed the Ukrainian capital while the UN secretary-general was there. Pelosi and a half-dozen US lawmakers met for three hours late Saturday with Zelensky and his top aides to get a first-hand assessment of the war effort to date.

Speaking to reporters Sunday in Poland, the delegation members were unanimous in praising Ukraine’s defenses so far, painting the battle of one as good against evil, and assuring continued long-term US military, humanitarian and economic support.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic