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Kelly played a key role in Zelenskyy’s fiery February 28 Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, where the Ukrainian leader made a series of last-minute security demands that went beyond an already negotiated economic and minerals deal. The tense meeting ended with the agreement unsigned and Trump reportedly showing Zelenskyy the door.
Days later, Kelly took to CBS’s Face the Nation to slam Trump as a “bully” and staunchly defend Zelenskyy, further stoking tensions. His latest trip marks the first by any U.S. lawmaker to Ukraine since the Oval Office debacle.
Kelly’s staff released a statement Sunday night detailing his visit, highlighting that he also traveled through Poland, where he dined with U.S. troops. A retired Navy captain and former NASA astronaut, Kelly has positioned himself as a vocal advocate for continued U.S. intervention in Ukraine.
During his visit, Kelly toured a military hospital, met with Red Cross officials, and was briefed by Ukrainian military leaders and U.S. embassy personnel. He also visited defense industry sites and spent time with pilots engaged in combat missions against Russia. This marks his third visit to Ukraine, his last being in September 2023.
“I visited Ukraine to show my support for the Ukrainian people. As always, I’m blown away by their resolve as they fight for their country in the face of Putin’s illegal invasion,” Kelly stated. “I plan to bring what I’ve learned from Ukrainian leaders, service members, and the Ukrainian people back to Washington to share the direct impact our support has on the ground.”
Kelly continued, “One thing is clear: No one wants this war to end more than President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. But it has to end in a way that protects their sovereignty and security. The safety of Ukraine is tied to the safety of the United States, that’s why I stand with Ukraine.”
Kelly met with Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Ivan Havryliuk to discuss how the pause in U.S. military aid has impacted the war effort, vowing to work with Congress to reinstate support. He also visited a military hospital, speaking with wounded soldiers, including one who had lost multiple limbs to a drone attack.
At the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine, Kelly laid flowers in tribute to Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war. He later met aviation engineering students who have been innovating technology for Ukraine’s defense effort.
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Following his visit, Kelly took to Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to push his message, writing:
“Just left Ukraine. What I saw proved to me we can’t give up on the Ukrainian people. Everyone wants this war to end, but any agreement has to protect Ukraine’s security and can’t be a giveaway to Putin.”
Kelly attempted to paint Trump as weak for pausing military aid and intelligence-sharing, claiming it would embolden Russia and ultimately threaten NATO allies and U.S. security. He described Trump’s refusal to endlessly fund Ukraine’s war effort as “sickening.”
Hospitals should never be targets in war, but Putin is a war criminal who targets hospitals routinely. I visited one in Kyiv. Injured soldiers told me how they want to get back to the fight. Nurses there shared their stories of the invasion with me through tears. Stories of violence that women and children of Ukraine suffered during the invasion. These nurses told me how they witnessed Russian soldiers raping children in front of their parents and then murdering these children in front of their parents. Horrendous war crimes which can never be forgiven. Donald Trump says he trusts Putin and is trying to make him look like a friend and a good guy. I look forward to seeing Putin rot in prison.
In another attempt to justify continued U.S. involvement, Kelly invoked China, warning that if America abandons Ukraine, it would embolden Beijing to take Taiwan by force.
“If we abandon our ally Ukraine, we will be viewed by other countries including our other allies as untrustworthy and in the future we shouldn’t expect their help,” Kelly claimed. He went on to argue that Ukraine’s military innovations should be admired, rather than questioned.
Kelly’s rhetoric follows a familiar script pushed by the pro-war establishment in Washington—suggesting that any reduction in U.S. military aid would lead to global catastrophe. Yet Trump, along with a growing number of Americans, sees Ukraine as an endless money pit that does little to advance U.S. interests.
Kelly’s trip raises serious questions. Is he genuinely trying to help Ukraine, or is he simply working to undermine Trump’s diplomatic efforts? His visit comes as Trump continues to push for peace, challenging the Biden administration’s relentless escalation of the war.
While Trump is focused on negotiations to end the bloodshed, Kelly and other pro-war Democrats seem determined to keep the conflict alive.
The real question: Does Kelly’s trip signal an effort to advance peace—or prolong a costly war that benefits the D.C. establishment?
