House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to Poland over the weekend to meet with American armed forces, leaders from Poland, and Ukrainian refugees.
The delegation met with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski as part of its visit in Warsaw.
“The whole world is watching what’s unfolding in Ukraine,” McCarthy said in a statement. “We see the atrocities being committed by Vladimir Putin, and more importantly, we see the bravery of the Ukrainian people. We are here—as representatives of the United States—to ensure we are doing what is right to support Ukrainians as they defend themselves and their democracy.”
McCarthy also honored the work of Poland’s leaders as a strategic partner with the U.S. to care for refugees.
“Poland has been an indispensable strategic partner by accepting millions of refugees, working closely with our military forces, and contributing fully to NATO as we all aim to restore peace and prosperity to the region,” McCarthy wrote.
“Our visit today should serve as a powerful message to Putin that we condemn his unprovoked attacks. Evil cannot win,” he added.
McCarthy said that he asked Ukrainian officials directly what they need to win against Putin. “They were clear in their response: we can fight the war ourselves; we just need better weapons to do it.”
The Republican leader also shared on Twitter that the world is “rooting for Ukraine.”
“The world is watching and rooting for Ukraine. I’m proud to lead a bipartisan delegation to the region to thank our U.S. troops, to show our support for our strategic partner, Poland, and to hear directly from Ukrainians about Putin’s unprovoked attacks,” McCarthy wrote.
The world is watching and rooting for Ukraine. I'm proud to lead a bipartisan delegation to the region to thank our U.S. troops, to show our support for our strategic partner, Poland, and to hear directly from Ukrainians about Putin's unprovoked attacks. https://t.co/QmH2j8Jl5j pic.twitter.com/jPclQeNx1t
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) April 10, 2022
McCarthy was joined by Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), Foreign Affairs Committee Republican Lead Michael McCaul (R-TX), Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Michael Turner (R-OH), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Rep. French Hill (R-AK), Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA), and Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN).
Turner placed the fault of the war in Ukraine directly on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“What’s occurring in Ukraine isn’t a geopolitical conflict. It’s not war between nations… This is absolutely Vladimir Putin, who is mercilessly bombing a nation, indiscriminately killing innocent people and causing millions to have to flee,” he wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
According to The Hill, “Another bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), is set to visit Berlin, Copenhagen, Warsaw, a Polish city near the Ukrainian border named Rzeszow, and Kangerlussuaq, Greenland this week.”