WASHINGTON – Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, visited Ukraine on Saturday to meet with President Vladimir Zelensky, led by the country’s last delegation of US lawmakers, as the United States deepens its commitment to fighting Kyiv.
Mr McConnell’s surprise visit, accompanied by three other Republican senators, comes as the Senate works to adopt a $ 40 billion emergency military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine. A series of other secret visits followed, including First Lady Jill Biden and President Nancy Pelosi.
The trip, a rare international visit for Mr McConnell, underscores widespread bipartisan support for Ukraine in Washington as the country seeks to repel Russia’s invasion, although questions remain about the Biden administration’s overall strategy on conflict and the scope of US aid.
“Helping Ukraine is not an example of ordinary philanthropy – it directly affects national security and the vital interests of America, that Russia’s naked aggression is not successful and carries significant costs,” McConnell said this week. “If Ukraine fails to repel Russian aggression, there is no doubt that the threat to American and European security will grow.
The trip was opened by Mr. Zelenski’s office. Details have not yet been provided by lawmakers.
Mr McConnell was joined by Senators John Barasso of Wyoming, a member of his leadership team and the Foreign Affairs Committee; John Cornin of Texas, member of the Intelligence Committee; and Susan Collins of Maine, who is on both the Intelligence Committee and the Committee on Appropriations, which oversees government funding.
On Thursday, the Senate failed to speed up the adoption of the $ 40 billion emergency package for Ukraine, as one Republican senator, Rand Paul of Kentucky, refused to agree to remove procedural barriers and approve the measure without being given the opportunity to add proposal to establish a general inspector to monitor how the money is spent. The measure is still expected to pass next week.
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