Washington, DC – Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement on his visit to Ukraine and Poland as part of Speaker Pelosi’s Congressional delegation (CODEL). This is the first official Congressional delegation to Ukraine since Russia’s renewed, full-scale invasion began. Chairman Meeks led the last CODEL to Kyiv in January before the invasion.  

“It was my distinct and solemn honor to join Speaker Pelosi and my colleagues to meet once again with President Zelensky during our Congressional delegation to Kyiv, where we assured him of the United States and Congress’ unwavering and bipartisan support for Ukraine’s defense. 

“In my last visit to Kyiv just before the full-scale war broke out, I met with President Zelensky, Foreign Minister Kuleba, and others who assured me that the Ukrainian people’s will to defend their country and freedom was unyielding. After our visit this week, it is clear that the Ukrainian people’s resolve remains unshaken. President Zelensky was right: Russian forces – and President Putin – have failed. They have failed to take Kyiv and topple the government, and have failed to destroy Ukraine’s dream of a resilient, united democracy. Russia will continue to fail as it wages war in Ukraine’s east and south. To help Ukraine in its cause, we assured President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people that further economic, humanitarian and security assistance is on its way as Congress works to pass President Biden’s substantial and unprecedented funding request.  

“We also had the opportunity to travel to Poland, where we met with U.S. troops stationed in the country, President Andrzej Duda, and Members of Poland’s Parliament to convey U.S. gratitude for their efforts. We discussed ways to ensure that NATO’s collective deterrence, and its resolve, remains strong and how the United States can continue to provide humanitarian support to Poland and other European allies who are generously opening their doors to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Together with our NATO allies and with partners around the world, we will continue to work to impose severe consequences on Russia until it ends its brutal invasion, and to provide assistance for Ukraine.”