Mike Pence's Surprise Visit: First GOP Candidate To Meet Zelenskyy In Ukraine

Former Vice President Mike Pence paid an unexpected visit to war-torn Ukraine on Thursday, becoming the first GOP presidential candidate to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

What Happened: “I believe America's the leader of the free world,” Pence told NBC News in an interview about the trip. 

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“But coming here just as a private citizen — being able to really see firsthand the heroism of the Ukrainian soldiers holding the line in those woods, see the heroism of the people here in Irpin that held back the Russian army, to see families whose homes were literally shelled in the midst of an unconscionable and unprovoked Russian invasion — just steels my resolve to do my part, to continue to call for strong American support for our Ukrainian friends and allies.”

Pence has been one of the most vocal Republican candidates, advocating U.S. support for Ukraine. His position diverges from that of front-runners like former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who have expressed reservations about providing military aid to Kyiv. 

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The report added that Pence would be witnessing the harrowing aftermath of Ukraine’s 16-month ordeal, visiting Moshchun, Bucha, and Irpin – three cities ravaged by Russian forces during their occupation. 

Mykhailo Podolyak, Zelenskyy's top advisor, commenting on Pence's visit, said the presidential candidate "understands absolutely clearly what Russia is."

"He deeply understands Russia and deeply understands the nature of this conflict, that it is not about territories, not about any businesses, not about anything except the main thing … those values for which the United States were created," he said, naming "freedom, competition and democracy."

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