US House speaker 'has to come' to Ukraine, says Zelenskyy

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Republican US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy should come to Ukraine to see "what's happening" on the ground.

"Mr. McCarthy, he has to come here to see how we work, what’s happening here, what war caused us, which people are fighting now, who are fighting now. And then after that, make your assumptions," Zelenskyy said in an interview with CNN.

McCarthy has repeatedly said he defends Ukraine but there should be "no blank check" when it comes to aid.

The House speaker said he does not have plans to visit Ukraine, according to CNN.

"I think that Speaker McCarthy, he never visited Kyiv or Ukraine, and I think it would help him with his position," added Zelensky.

Since the war with Russia started in February last year, many world leaders, including both Democrat and Republican American lawmakers, have visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in solidarity with that nation.