Two congressmen from North Texas joined the delegation that visited Zelensky in Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine — Two congressmen from North Texas were part of a congressional delegation that visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Tuesday.

US Representatives Keith Self, who represents most of Collin and Hunt counties, and Jake Ellzee, whose county covers parts of Ellis, Navarro and Hill counties, were among the group that visited the war-torn country. They were joined by Texas Congressman Michael McCall, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

IN video and photo As Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova tweeted, a congressional delegation is talking to Zelensky about US support during the war with Russia.

“Thank you for coming today. This is really important. We are grateful to the United States,” Zelensky told representatives of the US House of Representatives.

“The support was overwhelming, all countries. Of course, our Congress is on both sides of the aisle. He was very supportive of your efforts and we did our best to support you,” McCall told Zelensky.

The meeting with the Ukrainian president comes a day after US President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv as Ukraine approaches the anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

“A year later, Kyiv is standing,” Biden said in Kyiv after meeting with Zelensky. “And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans are with you and the world is with you.”

During the visit, Biden also announced an additional $500 million in defense spending for Ukraine.

The President of the United States took a detailed look at what the Russian invasion has done to Ukraine, including the destruction of people’s homes and livelihoods. The war claimed the lives of thousands of Ukrainians and forced millions to flee the country.