A bipartisan congressional delegation traveled to Poland this weekend to assess the situation on the ground and assure our NATO ally, Poland, our full support. The US Congress expresses our deep appreciation for what the people of Poland are doing for the people of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/V4yxEf9LbC

— Rep. Victoria Spartz (@RepSpartz) March 6, 2022

'Sapere aude'

Rep. Victoria Spartz pushed back on the anonymous criticism of her decision to elbow her way into the congressional delegation and refuted the description of her behavior on the trip.

"This accusation is a cowardly misrepresentation of facts by some jealous members or staff since we had a very productive bipartisan CODEL in March," Spartz said. "I did not come to Congress to get paid for my travel vacations or dinners, but rather get things done. I have always been willing to spend my own hard-earned money to help with causes I care about."

'Sapere aude'

Hoosier state, a politician with guts who is engaged and dares to speak truths. Respect.

Ukrainian-born GOP lawmaker rankles colleagues with her aggressive criticism of Kyiv

That bipartisan frustration over Spartz's behavior was only the beginning. In the nearly six months since the war began, Spartz has publicly criticized the Ukraine government, peddled corruption allegations against the Ukrainian government and some of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's top aides, and spurred complaints from her colleagues that she is mirroring pro-Russia talking points.

"President Zelensky has to stop playing politics and theater, and start governing to better support his military and local governments," Spartz said in a press release last month, in one example of her outspoken criticisms of Kyiv.

Spartz, a 43-year-old businesswoman, has repeatedly insisted, publicly and privately, that she wants Ukraine to win, and that she is only attacking Kyiv because she wants to help remove any potential obstacles to a Ukrainian victory over Russia. She says she has visited Ukraine six times since the invasion began and has also slammed Russia consistently, including as recently as Tuesday when she tweeted that Russia should be declared a terrorist state.

Still, Spartz's bellicose rhetoric aimed at Zelensky and his advisers has frustrated lawmakers in both parties, White House officials and members of the Ukrainian parliament alike. They worry she is undermining their efforts to stay united behind Ukraine at a pivotal moment and openly question where she is getting some of her information, according to interviews with over a dozen lawmakers, aides and administration sources.

Meanwhile, multiple briefings from the Biden administration and private pleas from senior Republicans have done little to rein in Spartz's vocal criticism, sources said.
Once seen as a crucial messaging asset, Spartz has now become something of a liability for defense hawks who were already worried about fatigue in the United States over the ongoing war abroad.

Jeez ... she mirrors many of my talking points over the last 15 years about Ukraine and the division East-West. Governing under Zelensky has only further split the nation in two and seems to be irreconcilable. All to the advantage of its large neighbour which has vital interests in Ukraine for over a century now.

'Sapere aude'

One of her focus points is a concern for prioritizing the war effort, supporting the men and women fighting on the frontline.

Although, I was disappointed to learn that instead of recognizing its military and launching an all-country effort to support it, Kyiv, with Andriy Yermak effectively at the helm, is playing politics. Also, Kyiv seems to have money for reconstruction efforts for nonessential infrastructure, but no money to support soldiers, like the long-promised housing for 2014 Anti-Terrorist Operation fighters from the occupied territories.

Unfortunately, instead of addressing the concerns I raised last week, Mr. Yermak has launched a smear campaign against me. Many Americans and Europeans have had serious concerns with Mr. Yermak for a while. If Mr. Yermak was a statesman, as someone with an already questionable reputation, he would have resigned this winter after assuring the Ukrainian leadership that no attack by Russia was going to happen, which reduced Ukraine's preparedness. However, it is never too late to do the right thing.

Andrii Borysovych Yermak - biography Wikipedia

'Sapere aude'

Remember Corruption in Ukraine?

The only Ukraine-born member of Congress, Rep. Spartz, airing out very familiar sounding Ukraine corruption scandals in Zelensky's administration of the sort that have been hushed up since Russia's invasion. [_link]

— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) July 12, 2022

Want to get rid of Andriy Yermak, best bet is to attack Zelensky as the two are like a Siamese twin.

'Sapere aude'