Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with a bipartisan group of Home members Thursday, a huddle that got here towards the backdrop of the GOP’s amped up criticism of the international chief.
Zelensky, who’s in Washington as a part of a multiday journey to the U.S., gathered for roughly an hour with a cadre of Home members from each events, throughout which they mentioned the Ukrainian chief’s “victory plan” for his nation’s conflict towards Russia.
“There were a lot of people in the room, a lot of questions, and we went relatively quickly,” stated Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md). “The president had one hour, and then he had to leave. … And some questions were asked about the plan and the confidence in a plan.”
Hanging over that huddle, nonetheless, was Zelensky’s journey to Pennsylvania earlier this week, which Republicans argue amounted to a type of election meddling. Zelensky met with Keystone State Democrats and toured the Scranton Military Ammunition Plant — a manufacturing facility that produces 155 mm artillery rounds — a go to that Republicans contend was successfully a marketing campaign cease for Vice President Harris.
Home Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) opened an investigation into Zelensky’s journey Wednesday, questioning if the Biden-Harris administration “committed an abuse of power” in transporting him on a navy aircraft. Shortly after, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) referred to as on Zelensky to fireplace his ambassador to the USA, Oksana Markarova, whom he accused of organizing “a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats.”
Johnson stated he wouldn’t meet with the Ukrainian president this week due to scheduling conflicts. Markarova was noticed strolling with Zelensky all through his go to to the Capitol on Thursday.
Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), the highest Democrat on the Home Intelligence Committee, stated Johnson’s name for Markarova to be fired got here up as soon as in the course of the huddle Thursday, when Home Overseas Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on the finish of the assembly informed Zelensky, “I want to meet with you on this whole Pennsylvania thing.”
“That’s the only moment in which it came up,” Himes added, noting that Zelensky didn’t apologize for the go to.
Whereas the go to was solely talked about briefly, in response to Himes, the cease in Pennsylvania was a subject of dialog within the halls of the Capitol. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), a bullish supporter of Ukraine, expressed concern concerning the determination for the Ukrainian chief to go to the state.
“It was not supposed to be political. … It’s very understandable that it could have been interpreted to be political, but I’m confident that for the government of Ukraine, it was not meant to be political,” he stated.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), one other lawmaker who’s resolute in his assist for Ukraine, nonetheless, took a extra reasonable tone, telling reporters after the assembly: “We don’t know anything about what happened there, my sense is that it might have been a huge misunderstanding, but we just don’t know.”
“But we’ll get to the bottom of it,” he added.
Hoyer rejected the notion that the decision for Markarova to be fired will impression U.S. assist for Ukraine, saying, “I don’t think so.”
“It should not,” he added. “We need to win this war. I think that was the message that both sides gave to the president.”
Lawmakers from either side of the aisle, in the meantime, described the assembly as constructive and uplifting regardless of the partisan political storm that has gathered round Zelensky.
“This meeting was a positive meeting. … The positive nature of the meeting was there was bipartisan support for success in Ukraine, which I think is critically important,” Hoyer informed reporters.
“I think we need to win this war. I think we need to protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine and protect democracy. I think NATO is committed to that end. The United States is committed to that end.”
Fitzpatrick stated Zelensky shared with lawmakers what the Ukrainians want by way of assist, offering an replace on the battlefield, and giving an inventory to lawmakers of people and companies evading sanctions, and of locations the place extra sanctions might be levied.
“It’s a multilayered challenge that he’s dealing with, and just got to make sure we stay with him and finish the job,” Fitzpatrick stated.
Republicans largely dismissed the importance of Johnson’s absence from the assembly, pointing to his feedback about his schedule.
“I wasn’t able to schedule a meeting with Zelensky this week because I had a very busy one, as you all might have noticed, and I don’t even think I’ll be in town now tomorrow,” Johnson informed reporters Wednesday, after the Home handed a stopgap funding invoice to avert a authorities shutdown.
Questions, nonetheless, have swirled concerning the Home’s skill to ship extra help to Ukraine down the street if Johnson stays atop the GOP convention. Whereas the Speaker helped usher by way of a international help package deal earlier this 12 months, his convention has grown more and more isolationist.
Hoyer, who beforehand served as Democratic majority chief, expressed confidence in Congress’s skill to face by Kyiv irrespective of who’s in management.
“Let me say that support for Ukraine has consistently gotten over 300 votes in the House of Representatives, with or without the Speaker voting for it,” he stated.
President Biden on Thursday introduced an $8 billion help package deal for Ukraine, to incorporate about $5.5 billion in navy help instantly from Division of Protection stockpiles and $2.4 billion in air protection, munitions, coaching and upkeep.
