Country music star Brad Paisley visited Kyiv with a bipartisan delegation of senators Thursday where he sang in front of destroyed Russian military equipment in Mikhailovsky Square and on a nearby sidewalk. He performed solo acoustic versions of his own Ukraine-themed single “Same Here” and also a Ukrainian-language folk song.

Former presidential advisor to Zelensky, Igor Novikov, posted a video of Paisley singing on a sidewalk for reporters on Twitter. The senators held a press conference in Mikhailovsky Square. Paisley posted a video of himself singing “Same Here” on his Instagram account.

Same Here, from St. Michael’s Square in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Emotional experience seeing all this first hand. So much more to share.

That video has been liked more than 30,000 times as I write this on Friday morning. Another well-known West Virginian liked it – actress Jennifer Garner.

I bet you've never heard Brad Paisley sing in Ukrainian 😉🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/lVwpuF22JQ

— Igor Novikov (@igornovikov) April 12, 2023

Senators on the trip included Democrat Mark Kelly of Arizona, Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Paisley is a native of West Virginia. Paisley and Manchin were photographed with Zelensky, to whom they presented a University of West Virginia ballcap. It was the first in-person meeting for Paisley and Zelensky though Zelensky appeared as a spoken-word guest on his “Same Here” recording. Paisley is an ambassador for Ukraine’s United24 fundraising campaign.

Paisley also performed for U.S. troops in Poland. He said the trip to Kyiv was an emotional experience.

At a press conference in Kyiv, Paisley said, “It’s an emotional experience seeing all of this firsthand. For me looking around this city and being here for the first time, I’m absolutely struck by the resilience of life and the beautiful nature of the way this city is trying to thrive in the middle of the conflict. And also trying to be as free as they can be in this hard time. I think as an American, it is one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen, and I’m absolutely honored to be here.”

.@BradPaisley previewed a song he wrote for Ukraine 🇺🇦 “Same Here.” He played in the rain, unplugged with no guitar strap. (How did he keep the guitar from slipping?) pic.twitter.com/sD9Qt2b3z8

— Mike Tobin (@MikeTobinFox) April 12, 2023

The three senators released statements. Manchin is presenting himself as the leader of the delegation.

“The Ukrainian people continue to show unimaginable courage in the face of Vladimir Putin’s unjust war. I was honored to meet with President Zelenskyy and members of his cabinet in Kyiv to learn firsthand about the challenges they face as this war rages on. And it was my pleasure to travel with West Virginian and UNITED24 Ambassador, Brad Paisley and witness his performance that truly lifted the spirits of everyone present. The level of patriotism, professionalism, and sheer endurance of the Ukrainian people is inspiring. After this visit, I am even more convinced that defeating Vladimir Putin and ending his ruthless war against the Ukrainian people must remain our top priority,” said Senator Manchin, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“For more than a year, the people of Ukraine have stood against the unspeakable atrocities unleashed against them by Vladimir Putin. Ukraine is an inspiration to the world, and it was an honor to meet with President Zelenskyy to reiterate our unwavering bipartisan support for their sovereignty and fledgling democracy,” said Senator Murkowski, a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “Despite the incredible hardships the Ukrainian people are enduring, they continue to show there are few things more powerful than a democracy fueled by unity and hope. As I return home, I’m more thankful than ever for the blessings of our American democracy, and more committed than ever to ensuring that Congress provides the assistance that Ukraine needs.”

“More than a year after Putin’s illegal invasion, the United States remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine,” said Arizona Senator and U.S. Navy combat veteran Mark Kelly. “What we’ve seen here is the incredible resolve of the Ukrainian people and their leaders, the importance of our and our allies’ military assistance in enabling the Ukrainians to defend their country up to this point, and the unspeakable brutality of war crimes carried out by Putin and his military. For the sake of democracy, freedom, and our vital national security interests, Putin must lose this war. We must do more, and when I return to the Senate, I’ll continue working with my colleagues and our military leaders to get Ukraine the weapons and support they need to win.”

Paisley strikes an optimistic tone about his impressions of Ukraine and the people fighting for their freedom in response to Mad Vlad’s invasion.

“There are risks you take going into a war zone, and I was made well aware of that. But I was more than willing to do it because I believe in these people, this cause, this freedom,” Paisley shared on social media. “In the middle of a full-scale invasion, I never expected to find such a fiercely hopeful city, its culture and daily life on display. Defiant life. Determined to breathe free. A city under constant threat. Refusing to buckle.”

“I fell in love with Kyiv immediately. And I got to do this all because I wrote a song asking about our similarities. Now I’ve seen them first hand. But it’s so much more than that,” he continued. “They idealize us. They wanna be us so badly. They believe in us. They see us as the goal. It’s as if they’re holding up a mirror that not only shows us who we are, but who we are capable of being as well.”

Paisley has taken some heat from fans who are not so gung-ho on continued American support on behalf of Ukraine in the country’s fight against Putin’s attempt to annex parts of Ukraine with his inclusion of Zelensky on the song.

The timing of the trip is awkward, given the leaks coming out of the Pentagon which revealed it could be out of air missile defense systems by next month. It’s important to remember that Ukraine is a corrupt country and American taxpayers deserve to have lawmakers doing oversight as to how American financial support is being spent. It’s also important to remember that Joe Manchin is toying with the idea of running for president, perhaps as an Independent.

Manchin and Paisley also sang West Virginia’s state song Country Roads in Kyiv. Paisley strummed the guitar while the senator stood behind him under an umbrella, singing along.

“Too loud, Joe,” Paisley quipped playfully during the song. Manchin said in a statement that Paisley’s performance during the Kyiv visit “truly lifted the spirits of everyone present.”

A majority of Americans approve of support, both financial and military equipment, for Ukraine, at least so far. Oversight is needed. The world is changing before our eyes. It’s impressive to see the Ukrainian spirit and determination to remain free of Russian control.