Senators on the Ground in War-torn Country

(DailyVantage.com) – The anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is rapidly approaching, and the two countries remain locked in battle. The West has consistently sent aid packages to the battle-torn country to assist President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his troops in defeating their aggressive neighbor. In December, Zelenskyy visited the United States. This month, three US Senators took a trip to Ukraine to see the country firsthand.

On Friday, January 20, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) traveled to Kyiv. They visited the presidential palace, where they met with Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials to discuss a number of factors related to the war and the United States’ unwavering commitment to the country.

.@LindseyGrahamSC, @SenWhitehouse, & I have met with @ZelenskyyUa & his top military team. Our trip to Ukraine shows that Republicans & Democrats are standing strongly together to give our wholehearted, steadfast support to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/QhNyrkisrC

— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) January 20, 2023

During the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked the US for its latest aid package, totaling $2.5 billion, that will contribute munitions, weapons, and equipment Ukraine needs to defeat Russia. The bipartisan trio agreed to ensure Congress continues to send the much-needed help.

The officials discussed Russian sanctions and the Wagner Group, a paramilitary organization that the Biden Administration might designate as a terrorist organization, among the more important topics during the meeting. The Biden Administration announced new sanctions against the Wagner Group on Friday, labeling it a “significant transnational criminal organization,” according to a press briefing from National Security Council Communications Coordinator John Kirby.

In the Kyiv meeting’s aftermath, Graham adamantly vowed that “the Republican Party … will not abandon Ukraine” in its efforts “to expel a Russian invasion that, if it were successful, would turn the world order upside down,” according to POLITICO. Both he and Blumenthal agreed they don’t want Congress to issue a “blank check,” but instead, they want to supply the necessary aid Ukraine desperately needs. Blumenthal also called for accountability to track where the money is going.

This trip isn’t the first time Graham and Blumenthal have visited the war-torn country. They also paid their respects in July 2022 after lobbying for support two months prior.