Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Kyiv with a US parliamentary delegation led by Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republican minority in the US Senate, the Ukrainian president said in a statement.

“I am counting on the support of the United States for the imposition of new sanctions. In addition, we believe that Russia should be officially recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism,” Zelensky said in a statement quoted by Zelensky during the meeting.

He also thanked “the United States for its leadership in supporting Ukraine”, saying that they are protecting not only his country, “but also democratic values ​​and freedoms and the right of countries to freely choose their future.”

In his daily video message, Zelenskiy said “this visit once again demonstrates the strong bipartisan support for our country and the strength of the relationship between the American and Ukrainian peoples,” noting that he also discussed “financial and military support” for Ukraine. as the question of “sanctions against Russia”.

The US delegation included, according to McConnell, a number of Republican senators. Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to Kyiv in late April, which was revealed the next day.

The delegation’s visit coincided with the U.S. House of Representatives approving a massive $40 billion aid to Ukraine, following President Joe Biden’s warning that funds intended to help Kyiv resist the “Russian invasion” would likely run out within several days.

The deputies voted 368 to 57 to approve this massive package of military, humanitarian and economic aid, the details of which were agreed by both sides in advance.

The Senate should follow the lead of the House of Representatives and pass this provision in order for Biden to sign it and become law.