Trump presidential rival Christie visits Ukraine, meets with Zelenskiy

FILE PHOTO: Republican U.S. presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addresses The Faith and Freedom Coalition's 2023 "Road to Majority" conference in Washington, U.S., June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo

(Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie visited Ukraine on Friday and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as he underscored strong U.S. support for Kyiv's fight against Russia.

Christie, once an ally of former President Donald Trump, is now challenging him for their party's 2024 presidential nomination - and drawing a stark contrast on Ukraine with the front-runner.