Former Vice President Mike Pence and his spouse Karen toured the Poland-Ukraine border Thursday as Russia's assault on its smaller neighbor rages into a 3rd week. Refugees fleeing Ukraine streamed previous the Pences, who spent about 20 minutes on Ukrainian soil close to the Korczowa border crossing in southeastern Poland.
In CBS Information' unique video of Pence's go to, the previous vp mentioned the Russian army had unleashed "unspeakable violence on the individuals of Ukraine."
"Karen and I simply wished to be right here to see firsthand what was taking place and to induce all of our fellow People to do your half, to wish earnestly for peace," Pence mentioned.
The Pences spoke with a number of Ukrainian refugees, together with a lady holding a younger baby who had fled her house due to Russian airstrikes.
"I would like you to know I was the vp," Pence mentioned. "I do not communicate on behalf of our authorities anymore, however I can inform you the American persons are with you."
The United Nations estimates greater than 2 million Ukrainians have left the nation because the warfare started.
"Karen and I simply spoke to quite a few households which have left their houses — in some ways, left relations behind, to struggle the warfare as they arrive right here looking for security for themselves and their kids," Pence mentioned. He additionally tweeted a number of photographs from the journey.
Pence, who's weighing a presidential run in 2024, visited the border as a part of a delegation from Samaritan's Purse, an evangelical Christian reduction group. He praised its the group's vp of operations, Edward Graham, for "responding in Jesus' identify." Graham, who stood alongside the Pences as they spoke, is the son of evangelical pastor Franklin Graham. The elder Graham is the president of Samaritan's Purse. The group has dozens of workers in Ukraine, Poland and Moldova.
Karen Pence mentioned "it has been heartbreaking" to listen to moms who instructed them they needed to depart their houses in the midst of the night time.
The previous vp visited Poland on the identical day that Vice President Kamala Harris met Polish President Andrezj Duda in Warsaw
"You could have sturdy hearts," Pence instructed a lady with a Ukrainian flag patch affixed to her camouflage parka. "Happy with you."
Editor's observe: An earlier model of this text incorrectly recognized Edward Graham because the president of Samaritan's Purse. His father, Franklin Graham, is the president of the group.