Government Of Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
18 April 2023

President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed enhancing sanctions pressure on Russia, in particular in the oil and gas sector, with Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy.  “Had a call with Speaker McCarthy. Thanked for bipartisan support of Ukraine by Congress. Outlined the situation at the front & Ukraine’s urgent defense needs in armored vehicles, artillery, air defense & aircraft. Discussed enhancing sanctions pressure on Russia, inter alia in oil & gas sector,” Zelensky posted on Twitter.  The President’s Office informs that Zelensky invited McCarthy to visit Ukraine.

During a working trip to the Poltava region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy.  The Head of State of Ukraine expressed gratitude for the unflagging bipartisan support of Ukraine from the United States Congress.  Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed the interlocutor about the course of hostilities in the main frontline areas and about the urgent defense needs of our country, in particular in armored vehicles, long-range weapons, artillery, air defense and aircraft. As the President assured, Ukraine stands ready to account for every dollar of American assistance.  In addition, the Ukrainian President and the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives discussed the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, in particular, lower the price cap on Russian oil and gas.  Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Kevin McCarthy to visit Ukraine.

LINKS To Related Analyses

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Punchbowl News
Washington DC
1 March 2023

The Ukrainian government is trying to set up a phone call between Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.  Ukrainians push for call between McCarthy, Zelensky

Scoop: The Ukrainian government is trying to set up a phone call between Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to multiple sources familiar with the effort.  The call hasn’t been scheduled yet.  The broader context here is important. A number of House Republicans have publicly turned sour on providing more funding to Ukraine to counter the ongoing Russian invasion, although there’s still majority support in the House for the embattled country. The United States has spent more than $113 billion so far on the war, with more than nearly $50 billion in direct military aid.  McCarthy told us in October that he didn’t want to give a blank check to the Ukrainians, although he doesn’t support cutting off funding totally.  McCarthy’s comments, however, have made Democrats and Republican supporters of more Ukraine funding fret about the future of the U.S. commitment to defeating Russia.  Zelensky has also pressed President Joe Biden to send Kyiv high-tech weaponry, including F-16 fighter jets and other long-range weapons systems. The Biden administration has resisted, although the White House did agree to send advanced U.S. tanks.  McCarthy’s office declined comment. The Ukrainian embassy in Washington didn’t reply to a request for comment. – Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan