Congress gets up close view of ‘horrific’ Russia-Ukraine war: Makes you want ‘to break down in tears’

A bipartisan group of lawmakers recounted harrowing scenes from the Ukraine border after witnessing the humanitarian disaster of refugees fleeing the conflict into Poland.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the chair of the Home Overseas Affairs Committee organized the journey final weekend to see firsthand the aftermath of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s all-out conflict on Ukraine and its civilians. 

“It is simply horrific,” Meeks instructed Fox Information Digital of the scenes on the Poland-Ukraine border. “It made me and quite a lot of others virtually wish to break down in tears.”

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR LIVE UPDATES

The members of Congress noticed scores of chilly girls and youngsters crossing to Poland, having to abruptly depart their peaceable lives and their belongings to flee for security in a neighboring nation. They witnessed “heartbreaking” goodbyes on the border the place males aged 18-60 needed to return to Ukraine to combat for freedom, whereas their households sought refuge in Poland. 

Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., recalled seeing a tearful mom of 4 who mentioned goodbye to her husband who needed to return to the combat in Ukraine. She did not have gloves as she crossed into Poland and her son was blowing on her fingers to maintain her heat. Wagner mentioned she gave the Ukrainian girl her gloves. 

“I have been in Congress for 10 years and this was most likely an important and consequential journey that I’ve ever made overseas,” Wagner instructed Fox Information Digital. “We weren’t there as Republicans and Democrats. We have been there as Individuals to point out … assist and to let our allies know … that now we have their backs and let the Ukrainian folks know that we right here in America will likely be there for them.”

Maksym Kozytskyy, the governor of Lviv, Ukraine, meets with members of Congress on the Poland-Ukraine border over the March 4, 2022 weekend. Photograph courtesy of the Home Overseas Affairs Committee, with permission. 
( Photographer Brennan Heil)

As chair of the Home Overseas Affairs Committee, Meeks travels the world. He mentioned he was final in Ukraine lower than a month in the past – simply earlier than Russia’s invasion. Seeing the peaceable, sovereign nation instantly below assault by Putin’s forces moved Meeks to prepare the journey together with the highest Republican on the committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.

REP. BRIAN FITZPATRICK HEADS TO UKRAINE BORDER: ‘I WILL GO AS FAR AS … THEY WILL ALLOW ME TO GO’

“I could not sleep at evening,” Meeks mentioned of photos of destruction he noticed from the information studies of conflict. “I made a decision that I had a accountability because the chair of this committee to go, and I went to Mr. McCaul and he felt the identical means.”

Members of the bipartisan congressional delegation on the Ukraine-Poland border throughout the weekend of March 4, 2022.
(Courtesy of Rep. Victoria Spartz’s workplace)

They did not go into Ukraine, however the governor of Lviv, Ukraine, Maksym Kozytskyy, left his metropolis to go to the members of Congress on the Polish border, in one other highly effective second. 

“He got here throughout and he was simply speaking about how they may combat and they’ll by no means hand over and they will win,” Meeks mentioned of Kozytskyy. “They wished to get the ammunition that was wanted. However he was simply saying ‘we aren’t ever going to surrender.’ When he was completed, he moved me a lot. I needed to hug him. I did not know what else to do.”

Different members on the journey to the Ukraine border have been Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind.; David Cicilline, D-R.I.; Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Raul Ruiz, D-Calif.; Susan Wild, D-Pa.; and Gerry Connolly, D-Va. 

The lawmakers met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, nationwide and native officers and acquired briefings from the U.S. Military 82nd Airborne Division. 

Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., traveled to the Ukraine-Poland border the weekend of March 4, 2022, to see firsthand the humanitarian disaster created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photograph courtesy of Rep. Victoria Spartz’s workplace) 

Because the U.S. beefs up its troop presence in Europe, the army mission is to “guarantee and deter,” Wagner defined – guarantee NATO allies in addition to deter Putin from escalating the conflict past Ukraine. 

The members mentioned they got here away from the journey moved by the struggling and fully united of their drive to make sure Ukraine has the weapons and humanitarian help it wants. 

In consequence, the Home simply handed $13.6 billion in Ukraine aid– greater than the $10 billion the Biden administration requested. 

“Putin is a brutal, evil individual,” Meeks mentioned. “… It’s a betrayal of mankind for him to do what he is doing. …There’s just one person who’s accountable for the tragedy that is happening proper now … and his title is Vladimir Putin. And he will get his ultimately.”