Harris Vows ‘Unwavering’ Support for Ukraine in Presser with Zelensky, Bashes Trump and Allies for Holding ‘Same’ Positions as Putin
Vice President Kamala Harris vowed “unwavering” support for Ukraine in its war against Russia’s invasion, and also took a swipe at former President Donald Trump and his allies for taking the “same” positions as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Harris made the comments in a joint presser Thursday afternoon with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, who was visiting Washington, D.C. to meet with her and President Joe Biden to discuss negotiations for both short-term military aid and “long-term security guarantees that could withstand changes in American leadership ahead of what is widely expected to be a close presidential election between Harris and [Trump],” reported CNN.
“My support for the people of Ukraine is unwavering,” said Harris. “I’ve been proud to stand with Ukraine. I will continue to stand with Ukraine, and I will work to ensure Ukraine prevails in this war.”
“To be safe secure, and prosperous, the United States must continue to fulfill our long-standing role of global leadership,” she continued. “We must stand with our allies and our partners. We must defend our democratic values and stand up to aggressors and we must stand for international order, rules, and norms. Each one of these principles is at stake in Ukraine and that is why Ukraine’s fight matters.”
Later in her remarks, she addressed comments from her Republican opponent and his supporters, urging Americans to remember that the U.S. “cannot and should not isolate ourselves from the rest of the world” because supporting Ukraine was not “out of charity but because it was in our strategic interest.”
Harris declared that the U.S. “shares your [Zelensky’s] vision for the end of this war,” and added that “nothing about the end of this war can be decided without Ukraine,” before offering a critique clearly intended for Trump and his allies, although she did not mention them by name:
In candor I share with you, Mr. President, there are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory. Who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality, and would require Ukraine to forgo security relationships with other nations.
These proposals are the same of those of Putin and, let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable. So President Zelensky, I look forward to our discussion today and I will continue to work with you to ensure Ukraine prevails in this conflict, and remains a free, democratic, and independent nation.
Watch the clip above via CNN.
