House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) this weekend became the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion, after she led a small delegation of Democratic lawmakers on an unannounced visit to Kyiv. She described the trip as a “solemn opportunity and extraordinary honor.”
Pelosi was joined by fellow Democrats Reps. Adam B. Schiff (Calif.), chair of the House Intelligence Committee; Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (N.Y.), Foreign Affairs Committee chair; Jim McGovern (Mass.), chair of the Rules Committee; and Reps. Barbara Lee (Calif.), William R. Keating (Mass.) and Jason Crow (Colo.).
America stands firmly with Ukraine.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) May 1, 2022
Grateful to be here in Poland where we will be meeting with President Andrzej Duda & senior officials. https://t.co/FG15f8uL32
Pelosi met on Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reiterate U.S. support “until the fight is done.”
In a press conference on Sunday, Pelosi called on other members of Congress to approve President Biden’s request for $33 billion in humanitarian and economic aid to Ukraine. “Our members were proud to deliver the message [to Ukraine] that additional American support is on the way, as we work to transform President Biden’s strong funding request into a legislative package,” Pelosi said after her trip.
Today, our delegation was pleased to meet with Speaker @ElzbietaWitek to discuss the shared commitment and work of our legislatures to further strengthen the important bonds between the U.S. & Poland. pic.twitter.com/UUnykvsAKA
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 2, 2022
She also did not mince words about President Vladimir Putin: “Do not be bullied by bullies. If they’re making threats, you cannot back down. That’s my view of it,” Pelosi said during a Sunday press conference based in Poland. “You cannot fold to a bully.”
Monday marked the 67th day of Russia’s occupation of Ukraine. Women in Ukraine in particular face specific wartime tragedies, including rape, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy. Pelosi’s visit signals a deepening U.S. commitment to a country under siege.
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