Russia attacks Ukraine: Pelosi leads congressional delegation to Kyiv

KYIV, Ukraine — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Saturday, leading a congressional delegation to Ukraine’s capital to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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Pelosi, who told Zelenskyy that “our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done,” came to Ukraine with House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks and Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern, The Washington Post reported.

“Our delegation traveled to Kyiv to send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine,” Pelosi said in a statement released Sunday.

The unannounced visit to Ukraine by Pelosi was followed by a trip to Poland, where they met President Andrzej Duda on Sunday, The New York Times reported.

Pelosi, who is second in line to the presidency after Vice President Kamala Harris, is the most senior U.S. lawmaker to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, according to The Associated Press. The meeting comes a week after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

>> Russia attacks Ukraine: Blinken, Austin meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv, official says

In Kyiv, Zelenskyy awarded Pelosi with the Order of Princess Olga, which is given to women who have made outstanding contributions to Ukraine, the Post reported.

“Thank you for helping to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state,” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.

Footage released by Zelenskyy’s office showed Pelosi and other U.S. legislators in Kyiv, the AP reported.

“We are with you until victory is won,” Pelosi tweeted in a clip she shared on Twitter.

“We’ll win and we’ll win together,” Zelenskyy said.

“When we return to the United States, we will do so further informed, deeply inspired and ready to do what is needed to help the Ukrainian people as they defend democracy for their nation and for the world,” Pelosi wrote in her statement.

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