US senators visited Kyiv and its suburbs
U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Victoria Spartz on Thursday visited Kyiv and its suburbs, which had been occupied by russian troops, becoming the first U.S. officials to arrive since the start of the war.
The New York Times reported this.
"There's no substitute for actually visiting here, seeing it for yourself, spending time with the people and leaders here in Ukraine who have been hit hard by this war," Daines said, standing near a ruined apartment building in Borodianka.
According to the publication, Daines, and Spartz, both Republicans, were invited by the Ukrainian government with a message a little more than a day ago. Daines interrupted his trip to Eastern Europe for a visit to Ukraine. Spartz, who became the first senator of Ukrainian descent in Congress last year, planned an informal visit to Ukraine and later joined Daines on the trip.
The senators also visited Bucha and observed the exhumation of the mass grave. Danes called what he saw "indisputable evidence of war crimes."
"It's everywhere. We drove miles, miles, and miles, seeing the death and destruction caused by vladimir putin in this vicious invasion," he said.
According to the interlocutor, who is familiar with internal discussions, two Republican deputies have arrived in Ukraine, as the Biden administration is considering sending a high-ranking official to Kyiv in the coming days as a sign of support.
Both Daines and Spartz have called on the United States to return diplomats to Ukraine, as some European nations have done.
"I hope that our visit encourages more American officials and leaders to come to support the people of Ukraine," Daines said.
The senators also said they supported a bipartisan effort in Congress to push the Biden administration to deliver weapons to the Ukrainian army faster.
"I think we need to provide the lethal help they need to win this war. The humanitarian crisis will not end until the war is over. And the war will not end until the Ukrainians win," Daines said.
