Lindsey Graham, who championed sanctions against Russia and supported Ukraine, has died
The Associated Press reports this.
Lindsey Graham has died aged 71. According to media reports, the cause of death was an aortic dissection caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Graham had represented the state of South Carolina in the US Senate since 2003. He was one of the most prominent Republicans on foreign policy issues, supporting the strengthening of US defence, aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
For Ukraine, his death marked the loss of a politician who was influential in the Senate, able to work with Democrats and maintained personal access to Donald Trump.
Why Graham was important to Ukraine
Following Graham’s death, Ukraine has lost one of its most effective channels of communication with the White House. The senator supported Kyiv even when relations between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy remained strained.
Graham was a proponent of a hard line on Russia. He advocated military aid for Ukraine, supported the supply of air defence systems and was working on a new sanctions bill against Moscow.
The Associated Press notes that in Ukraine, Graham was regarded as one of the strongest allies in Washington and an important intermediary in dealings with the Trump team.
A few days before his death, Lindsey Graham visited Ukraine. It was his tenth trip to the country since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
During his most recent visit, he met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visited a Ukrainian drone manufacturing facility and continued to push for the sanctions bill against Russia. Ukrainska Pravda reported that the senator visited the production facilities of the Ukrainian drone manufacturer SkyFall.
Back on 10 July, a group of US senators announced an agreement with the White House to push forward a bill on new sanctions against Russia. Lindsey Graham was among the authors of the initiative.
What sanctions against Russia was Graham pushing for?
Graham, together with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, worked on a bill designed to increase pressure on Russia and countries that purchase Russian energy resources.
These involved economic restrictions against states and companies that help Moscow retain revenue from the sale of oil, gas and other resources. The aim of the bill was to force the Kremlin to pay a higher price for continuing the war against Ukraine.
Following Graham’s death, Blumenthal stated that the swift adoption of the sanctions bill would be a fitting tribute to the senator’s memory.
How Zelenskyy reacted
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences on the death of Lindsey Graham. He said that America and the world had lost a resolute leader, and that Ukraine would remember his support.
Zelenskyy emphasised that Graham had visited Ukraine ten times since the start of the full-scale war, and that they had met twice in the past week.
The Ukrainian side valued him not only as a supporter of aid to Kyiv, but also as a politician who was able to explain Ukraine’s position within the US Republican Party.
What this means for Kyiv
Graham’s death does not mean an automatic change in US policy towards Ukraine. But Kyiv is losing an influential Republican who combined support for Ukraine with access to Trump.
This is particularly important right now, as Ukraine is asking the US and its allies for additional Patriot missiles, strengthened air defence and new sanctions against Russia.
Bloomberg notes that it will be difficult to find a politician with the same network of connections. Graham held a strong position in the Senate, worked with representatives of both parties and was well acquainted with the leaders of allied nations.
Who could replace Graham in the Senate
Following the senator’s death, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is to appoint an interim successor. Graham’s death also has political significance for the Republican Party, which holds a narrow majority in the Senate.
For Ukraine, the key issue will be not only the formal replacement of the senator, but also who within the Republican Party will be able to take on his role in promoting aid to Kyiv, sanctions against Russia and support for NATO.
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