Chairman Meeks Issues Statement on CODEL to Ukraine and Poland

Washington, DC - Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement on his visit to Ukraineand Polandas part of Speaker Pelosi's Congressional delegation (CODEL). Thisis the first official Congressional delegation to Ukraine since Russia's renewed, full-scaleinvasion began. Chairman Meeks ledthe last CODEL to Kyiv in January before the invasion.

"Itwas my distinct and solemn honor to join Speaker Pelosi and my colleagues to meet once again withPresident 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-scalewar broke out, I met with President Zelensky, Foreign Minister Kuleba, and otherswho assured me that the Ukrainian people'swill to defend their country and freedom was unyielding. After our visit this week, it is clear that theUkrainian people's resolve remains unshaken. President Zelensky was right: Russian forces - and President Putin - have failed. They have failedto takeKyivand topple the government, andhave 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 itscause, we assured President Zelensky and the Ukrainian peoplethat 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 metwith U.S. troops stationed in the country, President Andrzej Duda, andMembers of Poland's Parliamentto 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 forUkraine."