Zhelensky meets US lawmakers in Kiev – International

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky has welcomed in Kiev a group of US lawmakers led by Mitch McConnell, leader of the Republican minority in the US Senate, the Ukrainian president said in a statement on Saturday.

“I look forward to the US support for the new sanctions. We also hope that Russia will be officially recognized as a supporter of terrorism,” Zhelensky said during the meeting.

He thanked the United States for its leadership in supporting Ukraine, noting that Washington was not only defending its own country, but also that “democratic values ​​and freedoms are the right of nations to freely choose their future.”

In a video conference, Zhelensky said in the evening, “This visit once again shows the strong bipartisan support for our state and the strength of relations between the American and Ukrainian peoples,” and noted that he spoke of “financial and military support” for Ukraine. And “sanctions against Russia”.

In addition to Mitch McConnell, there were many experienced Republican senators in the entourage. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, paid a surprise visit to Kiev in April, which was not released until a day later.

The U.S. Congress on Tuesday took the first step towards opening up $ 40 billion to Ukraine, with President Joe Biden still to vote in the Senate before passing it.