U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, accompanied by four Democratic senators, made their way to Ukraine on Friday, intending to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid a standoff in Washington regarding billions of dollars in military aid for the nation ravaged by war.
Their arrival in Ukraine coincides with the eve of the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of the country.
Zelenskyy has persistently warned the U.S. and its allies for months about the diminishing stockpile of weapons within his military. He has underscored that without a prompt infusion of aid, Russia may attempt to gain the upper hand.
Ukraine made the significant move to withdraw from the city of Avdiivka, a pivotal battleground on the front lines of the war, just last week.
Although the situation demanded prompt action, U.S. aid for Ukraine has remained stalled in Congress since late last year. It wasn’t until February 13 that the Senate finally moved forward, approving a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan by a substantial margin with a vote of 70-29.
In recent weeks, a bipartisan coalition of Senate negotiators hammered out an agreement on more stringent asylum and border policies—an accord that garnered support from leaders in both parties.
However, Republicans reneged on their support following criticism from former President Donald Trump and his congressional allies, who argued that the deal didn’t go far enough.
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In a statement released on Friday, Schumer articulated four main objectives of the visit: firstly, to reassure the Ukrainian people of America’s backing and its efforts to secure aid for them; secondly, to underscore the U.S.’s continued solidarity with NATO and its European partners; thirdly, to gather information about the specific weapons needed by Ukraine and the potential advantages Russia could gain if such arms are withheld; and fourthly, to acknowledge the potential severe political, diplomatic, economic, and military repercussions that would significantly impact the American populace if the U.S. were to abandon its allies.
“When we return to Washington, we will make clear to Speaker Johnson — and others in Congress who are obstructing military and economic support — exactly what is at stake here in Ukraine and for the rest of Europe and the free world,” Schumer said in the statement.
“We will keep working to ensure Congress steps up, does the right thing, and delivers help for our friends and allies.”
The congressional delegation, led by Schumer and comprising four Democrats, includes Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed of Rhode Island; Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who is also a member of Reed’s panel; Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, a member of the Intelligence Committee; and Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, who chairs the Homeland Security subcommittee on Emerging Threats.
In December, Zelenskyy visited Washington, where he appealed directly to Johnson, Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and other congressional leaders for more assistance.
Schumer of New York stated after the December 12 meeting that President Zelenskyy’s message was straightforward: Ukraine would win the war against Russia if more aid was approved.
However, he also acknowledged that the opposite was true: If no more aid was approved, Putin would win. Schumer emphasized that Ukraine, the West, and the credibility of the United States as a reliable ally were all currently at stake.