Mitch McConnell And Others Visit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky During War

Mitch McConnell

The minority leader, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, visited Ukraine this Saturday to visit with President Volodymyr Zelensky, heading the latest team of American politicians to the nation as the US intensifies its commitment to Kyiv’s struggle against the Russian invasion.

Mitch McConnell’s surprise visit, accompanied by 3 other Republican senators, comes as the Senate works to adopt a $40 billion crisis military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine. It comes after a series of previous covert trips, including those by the first lady, Jill Biden, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The trip, a rare overseas journey for Mr. McConnell, demonstrates Washington’s overwhelming bipartisan backing for Ukraine as it fights Russia’s incursion. Although issues regarding the Biden administration’s broader strategy for the conflict and the degree of American support remain unanswered. 

Mitch McConnell Traveled To Kyiv To Meet With Volodymyr Zelensky

Mr. Zelensky’s office was the first to reveal the visit, and Mitch McConnell subsequently confirmed it after saying the delegation had departed Ukraine. He claimed the group agreed that the US will “continue to back Ukraine until it wins this conflict.” Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming, a member of McConnell’s leadership team and the Foreign Relations Committee; John Cornyn of Texas, of the Intelligence Committee; and Susan Collins of Maine, of both the Intelligence Committee and the Appropriations Committee, which oversees government funding, joined McConnell.

On Thursday, the Senate failed to move the $40 billion emergency aid package for Ukraine forward because one Republican senator, Kentucky’s Rand Paul, refused to waive legal hurdles and approve the bill without the opportunity to add a proposal creating an inspector general to supervise how the money is spent.

The bill is still anticipated to pass as early as next week.