Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 26, resulting in the Russian government taking action against the American lawmaker. Additionally, a prominent member of the media made a suggestion that implied violence.
Graham’s visit to Ukraine marked his third trip since the start of Russia’s war in the region. Throughout the past year and a half, the senator has been a staunch advocate for the military aid packages provided by the US to Ukraine. Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the support received from the early days of the invasion.
During the meeting, Senator Graham conveyed to the Ukrainian president his belief that the aid provided by the United States to the nation has been an excellent investment. He also made a statement regarding Russian casualties, which drew criticism from many in the former Soviet Union.
On Sunday, May 28, Margarita Simonyan, the Editor-in-Chief of Russia Today, responded to Senator Lindsey Graham’s remarks. She expressed her hope that the relatives of Pavel Sudoplatov, a Soviet general involved in the planning of Leon Trotsky’s assassination, are still alive, suggesting that she knows Graham’s address. Essentially, Simonyan insinuated a desire for someone to harm or kill the senator from South Carolina.
Simonyan, a Russian propagandist, further stated that while she personally does not harbor ill will towards the senator and her religion encourages forgiveness, she believes that there should be a response to remarks like the one made by Graham.
Simonyan’s reaction was not the only one expressing outrage. Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Senator Graham after his comments became public. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the ministry, claimed that American investments were responsible for World War II and the Holocaust. Television host Vladimir Solovyov, on his program, vehemently accused the US of supporting Adolf Hitler’s regime during the Second World War.
Despite the criticism, Senator Graham remained undeterred. He took to Twitter, stating that he would proudly consider the Russian arrest warrant as a “Badge of Honor” and that he would continue to support Ukraine until every Russian soldier was expelled from the region.
