Former vice president Mike Pence met with Ukrainian Ppresident Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday morning to reaffirm his commitment to defending Ukraine.
"Ever since the days of Ronald Reagan, the American people have always stood with those who fought back to defend their own freedom," he stated. "I do believe that the majority of Republicans and the majority of Americans still hold to that cause of freedom."
Support for Ukraine remains high among Americans. A recent poll found that 76 percent of Americans believe that a Ukrainian victory is in the interest of the United States. Fifty-nine percent, meanwhile, believe that America should continue to financially support the war effort in Ukraine.
Speaking to NBC, Pence said that he traveled to Ukraine because "it’s important that the American people understand the progress that we’ve made and how support for the Ukrainian military has been in our national interest."
"I truly do believe that now, more than ever, we need leaders in our country who will articulate the importance of American leadership in the world," he added.
Not all Republican candidates have been so warm to Ukraine. Former president Donald Trump signaled that he might cut aid to Ukraine, though he also claimed he would end the war in 24 hours. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, initially stated that protecting Ukraine was not a "vital" American interest, although he has since changed his tune and adopted a more hawkish stance.