Following his comments related to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on Monday, May 29, 2023.
In an edited video of his meeting with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, May 26, 2023, that was released by Zelenskyy’s office, Graham, a 67-year-old Republican, said that “the Russians are dying” and described the U.S. military assistance to the country as “the best money we’ve ever spent.”
While Graham appeared to have made the remarks in different parts of the conversation, the short video by Ukraine’s presidential office put them next to each other, causing outrage in Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov commented on Sunday, May 28, 2023 that “it’s hard to imagine a greater shame for the country than having such senators.”
The Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation agency, has moved to open a criminal inquiry against Graham, without specifying what crime he was accused of.
Russia has previously sanctioned dozens of U.S officials and politicians but has rarely sought the arrest of senior officeholders.
After Russia criticized the comments, Ukraine released a full video of the interaction, revealing that the two remarks were not linked.
During his visit to Kyiv on Friday, Graham told Zelenskyy that Ukraine’s resistance reminded him of “our better selves in America. There was a time in America that we were this way, fighting to the last person, we were going to be free or die.”
“Now you are free,” Zelenskyy said, to which Graham remarked, “And the Russians are dying.”
“Yes, but they came to our territory. We are not fighting on their territory,” Zelenskyy said.
“I Will Continue To Stand With And For Ukraine’s Freedom”
In comments made on Twitter, Graham noted, “to know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putin’s regime brings me immense joy.”
“I will continue to stand with and for Ukraine’s freedom until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory. I will wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin’s corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor.”
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
Graham disputed Russia’s criticism of his support for Ukraine by saying he had praised the spirit of Ukrainians in resisting Russia’s invasion with US assistance.
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman, Dmitry Medvedev called the Republican from South Carolina, an “old fool.”
“The old fool Senator Lindsey Graham said that the United States has never spent money so successfully as on the murder of Russians. He shouldn’t have done that.”
Dmitry Medvedev
Graham responded to Medvedev’s comments in an emailed statement to a news agency, saying, “As usual, the Russian propaganda machine is hard at work.” He added that Russia should stop the war.
“Mr. Medvedev, if you want Russians to stop dying in Ukraine, withdraw. Stop the invasion. Stop the war crimes. The truth is that you and [President Vladimir] Putin could care less about Russian soldiers.”
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
The U.S has given Ukraine military assistance worth a total of $38bn since the war began in February 2022.
