Pelosi’s workplace confirmed the trip in a press release on Sunday, saying that the Speaker had led an official congressional delegation to Ukraine — the primary amid Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky shared a video on Sunday of their assembly in Kyiv, and thanked the US for its highly effective assist of Ukraine towards Russian aggression.
“We are visiting you to say thanks on your struggle for freedom, that we’re on a frontier of freedom and that your struggle is a struggle for everybody,” Pelosi stated to Zelensky in the clip. “And so our dedication is to be there for you till the struggle is completed.”
Her go to comes because the US and its allies are stepping up to present long-term assist to Ukraine because the combating rages on.
The House on Thursday handed laws that will enable Biden to use a World War II-era regulation, referred to as the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, to swiftly provide weapons to Ukraine on mortgage. That regulation was initially created to assist forces combating Hitler, and displays the urgency in Congress to assist the Ukrainian armed forces.
The package deal is considerably bigger than the opposite packages which have been put ahead, and is greater than twice as a lot because the $13.6 billion infusion of navy and humanitarian help that Congress accredited final month.
Zelensky harassed the significance of the monetary help in his assembly with Pelosi. “The indicators that the United States and President Biden are giving right now are crucial. These are current robust steps in protection and monetary assist for Ukraine, in addition to selections on Lend-Lease – we’re grateful for that,” Zelensky stated.
The trip to Kyiv by Pelosi, who’s second in line to succeed the president, marks a major measure of dedication to supporting Ukraine from essentially the most senior stage of US management.
“Our delegation conveyed our respect and gratitude to President Zelenskyy for his management and our admiration of the Ukrainian folks for his or her braveness in the struggle towards Russia’s oppression.”
Zelensky awarded Pelosi with “the Order of Princess Olga” for her “vital private contribution” to strengthening Ukrainian and American ties. Olga was the primary girl to rule Kievan Rus, a medieval East Slavic state. The order bearing her identify is awarded to girls who’ve achieved vital success in politics and society — the personification in Ukraine of feminine power.
He additionally gave Pelosi a Ukrainian flag that he and feminine members of parliament, together with these she met with on the US Capitol not too long ago, had signed, in accordance to Pelosi’s spokesman Drew Hammill.
Pelosi was joined by a number of different senior members of Congress, together with Gregory Meeks of New York, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Adam Schiff of California, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee.
The delegation spent simply over three hours on the bottom in Kyiv, Pelosi’s spokesman, Drew Hammill, stated. The US politicians at the moment are in Poland, the place they’re due to meet with President Andrzej Duda and different senior officers.
Speaking to reporters at a press convention in Rzeszow, Poland on Sunday, Pelosi stated that her discussions with Zelensky centered round safety, humanitarian and financial help, and finally rebuilding Ukraine.
“We had been proud to convey to him a message of unity from the Congress of the US. A message of appreciation from the American folks for his management and admiration to the folks of Ukraine for his or her braveness,” Pelosi stated.
“America stands with Ukraine, we stand with Ukraine till victory is gained, and we stand with NATO.”
CNN’s Sarita Harilela and Sophie Jeong in Hong Kong and Daniella Diaz and Mikayla Bouchard in DC contributed to this report.
