Senator Lindsey Graham, US Senator for South Carolina | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator Lindsey Graham, US Senator for South Carolina | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham issued a statement today following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, D.C. Graham emphasized the need for a shift in military strategy to support Ukraine more effectively.
“I enjoyed meeting with President Zelensky today. The more pressure put on Putin, the sooner the war ends. If President Biden and Vice President Harris don’t adjust their military strategy in Ukraine, it will be a dire outcome for Ukraine and the world,” said Graham.
According to Graham, Zelensky’s primary request was for enhanced capability to use long-range weapons against key Russian military targets. “President Zelensky’s number one request was to be able to more effectively use long range weapons to hit key Russian military targets to put pressure on Putin to come to the table. He emphasized that without a change in military strategy, the war gets more difficult,” he stated.
Graham warned of potential negative consequences if current policies continue unchanged. “If the Biden-Harris Administration continues the policy of holding Ukraine back because they are worried about escalation, the outcome of the war will be placed in jeopardy.”
He further argued that allowing Zelensky to execute his plan is crucial for Ukraine's success. “In order for Ukraine to prevail, President Zelensky must be allowed to execute his plan, which includes hitting legitimate military targets inside Russia that are being used to go after Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure.”
Graham also linked U.S. interests directly with preventing Russia's success in Ukraine. “It is in America’s interests to ensure Putin does not succeed in dismembering Ukraine because that will unleash China on Taiwan, and Putin will not stop in Ukraine.”
Concluding his remarks, Graham stressed the importance of immediate action by U.S. leadership: “This is a decisive week in the war. President Biden and Vice President Harris need to get it right.”