Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie on Friday visited war-torn areas around the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The former New Jersey governor’s surprise visit marks the second trip to Ukraine by a GOP presidential hopeful. Former Vice President Mike Pence met with Zelenskyy in June.
“I feel the cruelty, and you feel the inhumanity,” Christie said during his meeting with Zelenskyy, which included a visit to Bucha, where more than 1,000 civilians were killed by Russian soldiers in May 2022. “As you look at this, and I don’t think there’s anyone in our country who would come here and see this and not feel as if these are things that America needs to stand up and prevent.”
Christie’s visit comes at a time when many other Republican candidates are retreating from U.S. support for Ukraine. Former President Trump, who is currently leading in the polls for the 2024 nomination, has said it is not vital for the U.S. to defend Ukraine. A recent poll from the Pew Research Center found that 44% of Republicans believe the U.S. is providing too much assistance.
The United States has so far spent $43 billion supporting Ukraine. Most recently, it began supplying cluster bombs, despite NATO opposition.
Christie favors sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which the Biden administration has so far resisted. He also said Ukraine should be granted NATO membership. In July, President Joe Biden said Ukraine would only be ready for NATO membership after the war with Russia had ended.
Christie is tied for sixth place with 2% of Republicans preferring him as the 2024 presidential nominee, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released this week. Trump is leading with 54%, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 17%. Former Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley are tied for third place, each with 3% of the vote.
