KYIV (AP) 鈥� Laura Loomer, an ardent ally of President Donald Trump with a reputation for incendiary social media commentary, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday after a dramatic turnaround on the war that could have political reverberations back in Washington.
Loomer had spent years minimizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and amplifying Russian propaganda to her nearly two million followers. This week she had a change of heart.
鈥淛ust experienced my first air raid in Ukraine. Sirens blaring. This is everyday for every Ukrainian,” Loomer . 鈥淚 often said I don鈥檛 care. Looking back, that wasn鈥檛 very nice of me to say.鈥�
It was a stunning reversal for a woman who had spent years criticizing U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense, declaring it 鈥渁 country full of Nazi apologists鈥� 鈥� a claim used by Russia to justify its yearslong invasion 鈥� and “led by a Jihadi apologist.”
The skepticism of Ukraine has been shared by other high profile conservative influencers, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
The meeting with Zelenskyy was confirmed by Dmytro Lytvyn, a spokesperson for the president, who said that no Ukrainian government institution had organized the visit. He added that Zelenskyy’s office first learned that Loomer was in Ukraine through social media.
鈥淚t is really important that @LauraLoomer is in Ukraine and sees things with her own eyes as they are,鈥� Zelenskyy’s office Tuesday.
鈥淚t takes courage to come to Ukraine and not be deterred by Russian propaganda or air raid sirens. Thank you, Laura,” .
Loomer did not respond to a request for comment.
In addition to the meeting with Zelenskyy, Loomer also visited the Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of the country鈥檚 most significant religious landmarks, which .
The attack on the of golden domes in the heart of Kyiv, which is also known as the Monastery of the Caves, sparked a fire that according to UNESCO. Zelenskyy had called it Moscow鈥檚 鈥渂iggest crime yet against Christian culture.鈥�
Russia , claiming, without offering evidence, that the complex was hit by one of Ukraine鈥檚 U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles 鈥� saying that it might have veered off course due to its age.
In a video recorded Loomer accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy by portraying Russia as pro-Christian.
鈥淚 just don鈥檛 think that you should be allowed to say that you鈥檙e protecting Christianity if you鈥檙e trying to drone strike Jesus Christ,” she said.
Sergiy Kyslytsya and Tetyana Berezhna, two top Ukrainian officials, were among those who met with Loomer and .
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trip.
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Colvin reported from New York.
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