Key US Republican backer of Ukraine, Lindsey Graham, dies at 71
The sudden death of Lindsey Graham removes a pivotal Republican advocate for Ukraine from the US Senate, creating fresh uncertainty over future American military support for Kyiv.
Lindsey Graham, the Republican chairman of the US Senate Budget Committee, died on Saturday evening at the age of 71 following a "brief and sudden illness." His office confirmed the news, asking for privacy during what it termed an "incredibly difficult period."
For European capitals, Graham's sudden passing removes one of Washington's most reliable advocates for maintaining military and financial support for Ukraine. He had just returned from Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ongoing aid and sanctions against Russia.
Zelenskyy said on Sunday he was "deeply saddened" by the death, calling Graham a "true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer." Graham occupied a unique space in US politics, using his influence to persuade sceptics within his own party to back European security initiatives.
That influence stemmed largely from his close alliance with US President Donald Trump, who praised Graham as "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known." Trump called him a "true American Patriot" who was "always working" and would be "greatly missed."
As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham held direct sway over the fiscal packages required to fund American foreign aid and defence spending. His death creates a leadership vacuum in Republican budget negotiations just as Congress faces ongoing debates over federal expenditure.
Graham's foreign policy footprint extended beyond Eastern Europe. He recently shifted his stance on a US "memorandum of understanding" with Tehran, initially expressing concern but later praising the deal after a "very lengthy and productive discussion" with US special envoy Steve Witkoff. "After this discussion, it is my opinion that signing the MOU will be beneficial to the United States, in as much as the Strait of Hormuz will begin to open, and the hostilities with Iran will stop," he wrote.
Elected to represent South Carolina in the Senate in 2002 after serving as a lawyer in the US Air Force, Graham had built a career as a hawkish internationalist. His absence leaves a significant gap in the transatlantic relationship at a time when European leaders are working to secure long-term American backing.
