McCarthy turns down invitation to visit Zelensky
WASHINGTON: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday declined an invitation to visit Ukraine from President Volodymyr Zelensky, who, in an interview with CNN, suggested that a trip to Kyiv may challenge Mr McCarthy’s “assumptions” about military aid.
The exchange comes as some of fellow GOP in Congress are questioning, or opposing, the large sums of aid that the United States has provided to Ukraine. In two House panel hearings last month, which were held just a few days after the anniversary of Russia’s invasion, concerns over the tens of billions of dollars that the US has sent to Ukraine intensified, with lawmakers from both parties expressing doubts about future aid packages.
Mr McCarthy “has to come here to see how we work, what’s happening here, what war caused us, which people are fighting now, who are fighting now”, Mr Zelensky said in the CNN interview. He added that if Mr McCarthy visited Ukraine, “I think it would help him with his position”.
But the House speaker swiftly turned down the request. “I will continue to get my briefings and others, but I don’t have to go to Ukraine or Kyiv to see it,” he told CNN. “And my point has always been, I won’t provide a blank check for anything.”
An email and a phone call to his office were not immediately returned.
Several high-level US officials have gone to Kyiv since the war began, some in the past two months. In February, President Joe Biden travelled to Kyiv to demonstrate the US’ “unwavering support” for Ukraine. He walked through the Ukrainian capital’s streets alongside Mr Zelensky as air-raid sirens sounded. One week later, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited Ukraine’s PM, Denys Shmyhal, and announced the transfer of US$1.25 billion in economic and budget assistance to Ukraine. And last week, Attorney General Merrick Garland met with Mr Zelensky and attended a conference in Lviv.
There had been strong bipartisan support in Congress for providing military assistance to Ukraine, though enthusiasm has waned as the war grinds on. GOP control of the House could make it difficult for the Biden administration to win approval for more funding packages.