Zelensky Meets with Democratic Senators, Expresses Gratitude for U.S. Support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in Kyiv, as diplomatic efforts continue amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

During the meeting, captured in a video Zelenskyy shared on social media platform X, Senator Blumenthal can be heard saying, “Thank you for seeing us. We look forward to hearing from you about how we can be more helpful.”

The Ukrainian president expressed gratitude for America’s consistent cross-party backing, noting in his post that he “thanked the United States for its strong bipartisan support and work for peace.”

This high-level diplomatic engagement comes as President Donald Trump attempts to broker peace between the warring nations, though fighting persists with no immediate resolution in sight. The meeting underscores the continued American involvement in seeking an end to the conflict that has destabilized Eastern Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Zelenskyy highlighted that the senators had met with Ukrainian children who had been returned from Russia before their meeting with him. “Thank you, this is truly important,” he wrote, drawing attention to the humanitarian aspects of the conflict that include allegations of forced relocations of Ukrainian children to Russian territory, which international organizations have documented.

The Ukrainian leader also emphasized his country’s stance on dealing with Russia, telling the senators, “We see no better tools to influence Moscow than pressure.” He referenced pending sanctions legislation in the U.S. Senate, expressing hope for its effectiveness in curtailing Russian aggression.

Zelenskyy also briefed the American lawmakers on continued Russian strikes targeting Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, including American businesses operating in Ukraine. These attacks have been a consistent feature of the war, with Russia targeting energy facilities, residential areas, and commercial centers throughout the conflict.

The discussion included the contentious issue of using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense. “It is absolutely fair that Russian money should be used to defend against this terror, and we discussed the prospects of utilizing immobilized Russian assets to purchase missiles for the Patriot systems,” Zelenskyy stated. Western allies have frozen hundreds of billions in Russian central bank assets since the invasion began, but legal and political complications have slowed efforts to repurpose these funds for Ukraine’s benefit.

The meeting takes place as Ukraine continues to push for advanced Western weaponry, particularly air defense systems like the American-made Patriot, which have proven effective against Russian aerial attacks. These defense systems remain crucial for protecting Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure from missile and drone strikes.

The senators’ visit follows a recent meeting between Zelenskyy and Senator Marco Rubio ahead of diplomatic talks in Geneva, indicating ongoing American engagement across party lines despite domestic political differences regarding Ukraine aid.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued its military operations, recently striking a major Russian ammunition depot with its domestically produced “Flamingo” missile, demonstrating the country’s growing domestic defense production capabilities despite resource constraints.

The bipartisan nature of U.S. support for Ukraine remains significant as the conflict enters its third year, though debates persist in Washington about the extent and duration of American assistance. The Biden administration has provided over $40 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since February 2022, while Congressional Republicans have increasingly called for greater accountability and a clear path toward ending the conflict.

Neither senator’s office had responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.