CONGRESSIONAL CALLOUT: Sen. Schumer slams GOP over Putin worship during Ukrainian President Zelensky’s visit
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky paid a historic visit to the United States on Wednesday, meeting with President Joe Biden and speaking with Congress.
Ahead of that meeting, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer found it necessary to warn Congressional Republicans that Donald Trump’s history of worshiping Russian leader Vladimir Putin shouldn’t dull their empathy for Ukraine’s suffering.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Trump has expressed praise of Putin, and his supporters have attacked Zelensky.
Representative Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), for instance, has called the Ukrainian President a “thug,” and declared the country’s government “evil” for “pushing woke ideologies.”
Zelensky’s visit includes an appearance before Congress to discuss cooperation between Ukraine and the U.S., seeking support for the country’s defense during Putin’s invasion.
In advance of that meeting, leadership from both parties weighed in.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) spoke on the Senate floor, assuring that the incoming Republican Majority in the House would continue to provide Ukraine with necessary aid, although House Republicans have not indicated as much.
Senator Schumer’s (D-NY) statement was a bit more pointed and directed at conservatives who might not be able to find empathy.
“I hope all House Republicans will attend the Zelensky address this evening, when they do they should listen to President Zelensky decribe the horror his people have endured at the hands of Vladimir Putin. I hope that Donald Trump’s friendship with Putin is not motivating House Republicans to turn a blind eye to Ukraine’s suffering and desperate need for help, because the so-called ‘friendship’ between Putin and Trump was a sour relationship that was deeply damaging to our country and to the international order,” Senator Schumer said.
You can watch his statement below.
Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hits GOP lack of support for Ukraine ahead of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit:
"I hope that Donald Trump's friendship with Putin is not motivating House Republicans to turn a blind eye to Ukraine's suffering and desperate need for help." pic.twitter.com/oJlCVvkVMR
— The Recount (@therecount) December 21, 2022
Zelensky characterized the visit as one to “strengthen resilience and defense capabilities of [Ukraine]” and to speak with President Biden to “discuss cooperation between [the U.S.] and [Ukraine].”
On my way to the US to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities of 🇺🇦. In particular, @POTUS and I will discuss cooperation between 🇺🇦 and 🇺🇸. I will also have a speech at the Congress and a number of bilateral meetings.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 21, 2022
PBS reported on the current spending bill, which includes the provision of both financial assistance and arms:
“The U.S. was set to announce its largest single delivery of arms to Ukraine, including Patriot surface-to-air missiles, and Congress planned to vote on a spending package that includes about $45 billion in emergency assistance to Ukraine.”
Zelensky’s address to Congress, at 7 PM Eastern time Wednesday evening, can be watched here, courtesy of PBS.
