Pelosi pays surprise visit to Zelenski in Kiev

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenski on Sunday during an unannounced visit to Kiev, the capital of the besieged country. Pelosi's trip, the highest-ranking US leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, was intended to express her country's support for the Ukrainian government.

Earlier today, the Ukrainian presidency posted pictures of the meeting on its Twitter account, which showed President Zelenski welcoming Pelosi and her companions, a congressional delegation that included Representatives Jason Crow, Jim McGovern, Adam Schiff, Gregory Meeks, Barbara Lee and Bill Keating.

"You are welcome," Zelenski told the Americans, whom he thanked for their help in "protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state". Pelosi, for her part, acknowledged "your fight for freedom". "Our commitment is to be with you until the fight is over," she added.

Pelosi's visit had not been announced, although it had been expected. In a statement from her office, which also did not specify the date of the visit, she indicated that the delegation will continue its trip to southeast Poland, from where she appeared hours later to affirm that Washington will support Ukraine in the war initiated by Moscow "until victory is achieved".

At a press conference in the Polish town of Rzeszow, near the Ukrainian border, Pelosi said that in the meeting with President Zelenski, the two discussed issues relating to "security, humanitarian assistance, economic assistance and finally reconstruction once victory is achieved".

Pelosi reiterated her government's willingness to send Zelenski "a message of unity from the United States Congress, a message of thanks from the American people for his leadership and the admiration of the American people for his courage".

The leader of the US House of Representatives recalled that in Washington, President Joe Biden asked Congress to send a $33 billion humanitarian and military aid package to Kiev, a support package in addition to the $13.6 billion approved last February by lawmakers.

Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern, who took the floor after Pelosi at the hearing, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of waging war "on the world's most vulnerable" and "exacerbating hunger" with his aggression against Ukraine, one of the world's largest grain producers, which has exacerbated the global economic crisis.

In this sense, she advocated providing "direct aid" to Ukraine so that the authorities in Kiev can distribute it on their own where it is most needed and "to those who need it most".

Asked ultimately whether US support could lead to worse, Pelosi was blunt: "Let me speak for myself. Don't be intimidated by bullies. If they are threatening you, you cannot back down. We are there to fight and you can't give in to a bully.

The leader of the US Parliament will meet Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday, with whom she said she will discuss "humanitarian assistance and security". She will also express her "appreciation for Poland's commitment and humanitarian efforts", particularly with regard to the reception of Ukrainian refugees.