US House Speaker Rejects Zelensky's Invitation to Ukraine: "No Need to Go"

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, declined an official invitation to visit Ukraine from Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine.

President Zelensky said in an interview with CNN on the 8th (local time), "Speaker McCarthy has never visited Ukraine," and suggested the visit, saying, "I think it would be helpful for him to visit Ukraine."

He stated, "Speaker McCarthy needs to come to Ukraine to see what is happening, what the war has done to us, and how people are fighting," adding, "Then you can make your judgments."

President Zelensky also said, "If Democratic and Republican lawmakers visit Ukraine, they will be able to see where all the shells, bullets, and aid funds are going."

Zelensky's remarks appear to be aimed at the hostile atmosphere surrounding Ukraine, including claims within the U.S. Republican Party that some of the war supplies sent to Ukraine are circulating on the black market. Within the Republican Party, including Speaker McCarthy, there is a growing sentiment that excessive support should not be given to Ukraine.

Speaker McCarthy immediately rejected the public invitation. In an interview with CNN, McCarthy emphasized, "It is clear that a blank check for support to Ukraine is not acceptable," and added, "From this perspective, there is no need for me to go to Ukraine to verify whether a blank check is being given." He further stated, "I will receive reports and do other things, but there is no need to go to Kyiv to confirm that," and added, "My position is that I cannot provide a blank check for anything."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.