Former Vice President Pence met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv Thursday during a surprise visit to Ukraine.
“Today, the 48th Vice President of the United States @Mike_Pence is in Kyiv,” Zelensky tweeted. “We discussed our defense, interaction between our nations, security cooperation, and importance of partners’ determination and certainty regarding Ukraine’s future membership in NATO.”
Pence, who announced earlier this month that he’s running for President in 2024, is the first of at least 13 Republicans competing in the GOP Primary race to visit Ukraine.
The former Vice President expressed his unwavering support for Ukraine in its war against Russia following a closed door meeting with Zelensky.
“I have every confidence that the day will come when Ukraine’s sovereignty is restored, their territorial integrity is restored,” Pence told reporters.
He added, “We need to make sure we provide the Ukrainian military with what they need to push back on and defeat Russian aggression here.”
Pence’s visit came the same day that Zelensky was set to address the European Union summit in Brussels via video link amid questions about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s standing following a two-day attempted revolt by the Wagner mercenary group.
Top Zelensky advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Pence “understands absolutely clearly what Russia is.”
During the visit the former Vice President said that the “unconscionable and unprovoked Russian invasion…steels my resolve to do my part, to continue to call for strong American support for our Ukrainian friends and allies.”
Pence’s words were in contrast to those of GOP frontrunner former President Trump, who initially praised Putin when he invaded Ukraine in February 2022, saying he was “very savvy..”
