President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Saturday with a U.S. congressional delegation led by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kyiv, the Ukrainian President’s office said in a statement.
Zelenskyy said in a statement that ‘this important visit is a powerful signal of bipartisan support for Ukraine from the US Congress and the American people.’
“Today Ukraine is fighting against the Russian aggressor, defending not only its state but also democratic values and freedoms, the right of nations to freely choose their own future,” Zelenskyy said.
“Russia is committing genocide against the Ukrainian people. Commits war crimes that terrify the whole world – torture, mass shootings, rape. “Europe has not seen such crimes since World War II,” he added in a statement.
Zelenskyy added the special role of the United States in increasing sanctions pressure on Russia. In particular, he stressed the adoption by the United States Congress of laws banning the import of Russian oil and the suspension of trade relations with Russia and Belarus.
It is especially important to increase the sanctions pressure on the banking sector of the aggressor country, Zelenskyy said.
“I look forward to the United States’ support for further sanctions. In addition, we believe that Russia should be officially recognized as a state-sponsor of terrorism,” said Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy thanked the United States for its leadership in supporting Ukraine, the statement read.
The unannounced trip to Kyiv by McConnell’s delegation continued a parade of visits to Ukraine in recent weeks by the U.S. and allied government officials, lawmakers, and dignitaries to show support for the war-ravaged country and its embattled leader.
Earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Zelensky on April 24. On April 30, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a Democratic congressional delegation to Kyiv for talks with Zelensky. Pelosi vowed to the Ukrainian president that the United States is committed to “be there for you until the fight is done.”
First lady Jill Biden crossed the border into Ukraine last weekend and met Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, who had not appeared in public since the Russian invasion began.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
