Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Visited Kieu and met Zelensky without notice.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed his visits on various social media platforms.
“The visit of the US Senate delegation, led by Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, is a strong signal of bipartisan support for Ukraine from the US Congress and the American people. We are not just for our country. Thank you for your leadership in helping us fight for democratic values and freedom, “he said in a social media post. “Thank you very much.”
Senator John Barrasso (Republican), Susan Collins (Republican), and Senator John Cornyn (Republican) have joined the trip.
The Republican visit came when the Senate was set to approve an additional $ 40 billion in military aid to Ukraine, which passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan 368-57 votes.
However, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) Hastened to stall the bill passed by the Senate.
Libertarian Paul, who often opposes US foreign intervention, said he wanted to insert words into the bill without voting that would force inspectors to scrutinize new spending.
“No matter how sympathetic the cause is, my oath of office is for national security in the United States,” Paul said.
He was also concerned that new spending would exacerbate domestic inflation caused by “deficit spending.”
“We cannot save Ukraine by ruining the US economy,” he said.
He further stated that the United States should learn lessons from the collapse of the Soviet Union.
“We must not forget that most of the collapse was not due to the military defeat of the Soviet Union, but due to lack of funds. In an attempt to save Ukraine, we destined the United States for such a future. Is it? “He warned.
Paul’s opposition to swiftly passing the bill will postpone the bill next week or more, but its final pass is undoubtedly bipartisan support.
Senate leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) and McConnell (both intended to pass the bill on Thursday) opposed Paul, but voted for Paul’s concerns as an amendment to the bill. I suggested that.
“As is clear from the Kentucky senator, he doesn’t want to support Ukraine. The only thing he can do here today is to delay, not stop,” Schumer said. rice field.
McConnell suggested that it would be reasonable to provide weapons to Ukraine unless the United States participated in the war directly.
“Ukraine does not ask us to fight this war. They just want the resources they need to protect themselves from this turbulent aggression,” McConnell said of the Ukrainians. “And they need this help now.”
The Associated Press contributed to the report.
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Allen Zhong is a longtime writer and reporter for The Epoch Times. He joined the Epoch Media Group in 2012. His main focus is American politics.