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.
Grateful to be here in Poland where we will be meeting with President Andrzej Duda & senior officials. https://t.co/FG15f8uL32
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) May 1, 2022
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.
Up next:
