Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has praised President Biden for visiting Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday. Biden’s surprise visit came a few days before the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Graham released a statement in which he praised Biden for taking the time to meet with President Zelenskyy in Ukraine, stating that this move sends the “right signal” that the United States stands with the war-torn country. Graham added that the visit, along with the statements made by Vice President Harris at the Munich Security Conference, both showcase the U.S’s commitment to Ukraine. Harris revealed last week that the U.S. had determined that Russia had committed crimes against humanity during their invasion of Ukraine.
During his visit, Biden also announced that $500 million would be provided to Ukraine for assistance. Graham, on the other hand, has called for even further assistance to be provided and has urged the U.S. to send advanced fighter jets to assist in the war. He also urged the U.S. to help in training Ukrainian pilots on how to use and maintain the jets so that they can win the war against Russia. He also called for Russia to be designated “as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law.”
While Graham praised Biden for his decision to travel internationally to Ukraine, there are many Republicans who have criticized his decision stating that the president should be focused on domestic issues. Representatives Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) all slammed Biden for ignoring his domestic responsibilities in favor of going to Ukraine.
