Mike Pence makes surprise visit to Ukraine

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise visit to Ukraine, becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the campaign. 

Ukrinform reports this with reference to NBC News.

"I believe America’s the leader of the free world," Pence told NBC News. "But coming here just as a private citizen — being able to really see firsthand the heroism of the Ukrainian soldiers holding the line in those woods, see the heroism of the people here in Irpin that held back the Russian army, to see families whose homes were literally shelled in the midst of an unconscionable and unprovoked Russian invasion — just steels my resolve to do my part, to continue to call for strong American support for our Ukrainian friends and allies,” Pence said.

The visit comes at a crucial moment in the war, just after the Wagner mercenary group’s rebellion and the deadly Russian missile strike on a pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk. The visit also puts Pence in a unique position within the GOP — a party once dominated by hawks who advocated against growing Russian influence.

During his stay in Ukraine, the former U.S. vice president wants to visit Moshchun, Bucha and Irpin - three cities the Russian forces occupied and ravaged - and to meet with President Zelensky.

As Ukrinform reported, Mike Pence is running for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election.

Photo: NBC News