The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, paid a surprise visit to Kiev and met with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a Twitter post attached to a video showing Pelosi on the streets of the Ukrainian capital, President Zelensky said that "the United States is a leader in strong support for Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression."

"Thank you for helping to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state!"

On the other hand, Pelosi thanked Zelensky for their fight for freedom.

"Your war is a war for all," she said.

Pelosi was accompanied by his senior Democrat colleague, Adam Schiff, and three other congressmen.

A visit to Kiev by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin last weekend was officially confirmed by the White House only after they had left the country.