Three U.S. senators representing both political parties traveled to Kyiv on Feb. 14 to meet Ukraine’s president in a bid to show American support for Ukraine regardless of political affiliation.
“We come here because we want to show our bipartisan support for the bravest people of Ukraine,” said Ron Johnson, a U.S. senator from Wisconsin and a member of the Republican Party.
The visit, which also included senators John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, and Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, comes shortly after the Feb. 5 acquittal of U.S. President Donald Trump in an impeachment hearing.
The American president was accused of abuse of power after it emerged that Trump had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the son of his political rival, former U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, over his work in Ukraine. Trump also temporarily froze nearly $400 million in congressionally-approved security assistance to Kyiv.
During the visit, the senators promised to “push for more assistance, specifically military” for Ukraine in the near future.
They also said they understand that Zelensky has no intention of being involved in domestic U.S. politics.
“We want to put this impeachment question behind us, and we want to be moving together – Republicans and Democrats – in supporting Ukraine,” Johnson added.
Murphy said representatives from both parties are in Kyiv to make sure Ukraine feels equal support “for continued funding for Ukraine to defend itself, and…for reform.”
“I think there is going to be a broader conversation on how we can better support Ukraine in the months moving forward,” he added.
The visiting senators also expressed appreciation for Zelensky’s efforts to fight corruption and implement reforms, although they didn’t specify the achievements they were referring to.
