Russia has issued an arrest warrant for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham over comments made during his visit to Ukraine. The South Carolina Senator could be heard saying “Russians are dying… best money we’ve ever spent” in a video released by Ukrainian President Zelensky’s office.
In the initial clip, Graham appeared to utter both sentences in succussion. A longer clip released after Graham’s comments generated outrage in Russia shows that the senator was speaking at different times.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned Graham’s remarks in a statement Sunday, saying “it’s hard to imagine a greater shame for the country than having such senators,” the Associated Press reported. Russia’s Investigative Committee moved to open an investigation against Graham while the interior ministry later issued a warrant for his arrest.
Graham said the arrest warrant is a “badge of honor” upon hearing the news. “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,” Graham said in a statement Monday
“Finally, here’s an offer to my Russian ‘friends’ who want to arrest and try me for calling out the Putin regime as being war criminals: I will submit to jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if you do,” he added. “Come and make your best case. See you in The Hague!”
Finally, here’s an offer to my Russian ‘friends’ who want to arrest and try me for calling out the Putin regime as being war criminals:
AdvertisementAdvertisementI will submit to jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if you do.
Come and make your best case.
See you in The Hague!
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 29, 2023
After meeting with President Zelensky and top Ukrainian defense officials, Graham predicted “massive gains” when the nation launches its long-anticipated counteroffensive sometime this Spring. He also called for the U.S. to supply more long-range missiles and cluster ammunition, just days after President Biden authorized the delivery of F-16 fighter jets for the first time.
“I want to end the war in Ukraine by defeating Putin. The counteroffensive is afoot right now. In the last 400-something days, the Ukrainians have defied every expectation,” Graham told Fox News on Sunday.
“They’ve weakened and bloodied the Russian army inside of Ukraine. I expect major gains in the coming days and weeks. The Ukrainians have had a weapon called the Storm Shadow provided by the British that is wreaking havoc on the Russians. They need longer-range rockets called ATACMS and they need cluster munitions to defeat the Russians.”
Graham said he is confident that Russia can be “expelled” from Ukraine, arguing that a failure to deter Russia in Ukraine will embolden China to invade Taiwan.
