Russia’s Interior Ministry has issued an arrest warrant for Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) after a video of controversial statements praising U.S. military aid to Ukraine was published. The video shows Sen. Graham meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, where Graham says “The Russians are dying,” and “It’s the best money we’ve ever spent.” U.S. foreign aid to Ukraine is estimated to be $75 billion since the war began, according to recent reports. The video, which was shared by Zelensky’s office on social media, prompted a strong backlash from Russian officials.
After Russia criticized the remarks, Ukraine released a full video of the meeting to demonstrate that the two remarks were not linked. The longer video shows the Ukrainian President thanking Graham for bipartisan support and praising the U.S. military assistance.
On Monday, Graham reacted to the news of the Russian-issued arrest warrant with pride, tweeting that it brings him joy. The Senator wrote:
I will wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin’s corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor. 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.
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. Come and make your best case. See you in The Hague!
Additionally, a criminal investigation was opened by Russia’s Investigative Committee against Graham, asserting that he “declared the financial involvement of the United States is causing the death of Russian citizens.”
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council condemned the statements, calling 67-year-old Graham, “an old fool,” and saying that he “shouldn’t have done that.”
A spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, labeled Graham as a legislator bringing shame to the United States, saying:
It’s difficult to imagine a greater shame for a country than having such senators.
Senator Graham dismissed the criticisms of Russia’s officials as propaganda, saying:
As usual, the Russia propaganda machine is hard at work.
In the same interview, Graham addressed Medvedev directly, directing him to withdraw troops from Ukrainian territories in order to preserve Russian lives:
Mr. Medvedev, if you want Russians to stop dying in Ukraine, withdraw. Stop the invasion. Stop the war crimes.
Graham also accused both Putin and Medvedev of not caring about Russian troops, at all:
The truth is that you and Putin could care less about Russian soldiers.
Furthermore, as noted above, Graham extended a taunting offer to his “Russian ‘friends'” who seek to arrest and try him. He pledged to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, challenging them to present their best case against him in The Hague. The situation has escalated tensions between the United States and Russia.