{"id":1624,"date":"2026-07-13T04:39:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T04:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1624"},"modified":"2026-07-13T04:39:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T04:39:34","slug":"ukraine-reels-after-sen-lindsey-grahams-sudden-death-fearing-a-weaker-link-to-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1624","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine reels after Sen. Lindsey Graham\u2019s sudden death, fearing a weaker link to Trump"},"content":{"rendered":"
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) \u2014 With the death of Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham<\/span>, Ukraine lost a close ally in President Donald Trump\u2019s<\/span> orbit, leaving its leaders grappling with the implications for their war-torn country.<\/p>\n

Read more US and Iran vie for Strait of Hormuz, waterway key to global energy supplies, in latest attacks<\/a><\/p>\n

Graham had been in Ukraine two days prior, standing in Kyiv\u2019s St. Michael\u2019s Square, flanked by the golden domes of the monastery and the burned-out remains of Russian military equipment.<\/p>\n

There, he offered Ukrainians reason to be optimistic, telling reporters that sweeping new hard-hitting economic sanctions against Russia, legislation he had spent years pushing with Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, were finally within reach. He would be heading back to Washington to meet with bipartisan leaders to advance the proposal. <\/p>\n

Two days later, on Sunday, the world learned of his sudden death<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian officials and lawmakers were devastated by the news. For years, Graham had been one of Kyiv\u2019s closest allies in Washington and a trusted intermediary with Trump, who had a strained relationship with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Now, officials fear that without Graham, Ukraine\u2019s ability to influence the White House could be diminished across a broad range of issues, not just the fate of the Russia sanctions bill.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHuge and absolutely unexpected loss,\u201d said Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker with Zelenskyy\u2019s party. \u201cHe was truly indispensable. I even don\u2019t know who might be as important for us now in Trump\u2019s entourage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was the closest link between Ukraine, our president and Trump,\u201d he added. \u201cOur position in Trump\u2019s entourage might be weaker.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy said he had \u2018constant dialogue\u2019 with Graham<\/h2>\n

Condolences poured in from senior Ukrainian officials including Zelenskyy, who remembered Graham as one of Ukraine\u2019s staunchest champions in Washington and someone who was in constant contact with Kyiv.<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy said he was \u201cdeeply saddened\u201d by the senator\u2019s sudden death, noting that Graham had visited Ukraine 10 times since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion<\/span> and had been with Ukrainians \u201cwhen it was most needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe were in constant dialogue and will miss that greatly,\u201d Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, recalling that the two had met twice last week, at the NATO summit and again during Graham\u2019s visit to Kyiv.<\/p>\n

Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk described Graham as a \u201csteadfast friend of Ukraine\u201d whose support was \u201cprincipled and resolute.\u201d He said he would always remember their \u201cmeaningful, sincere, and warmly personal meetings,\u201d adding that he believed Graham\u2019s efforts to impose tougher sanctions on Russia would be carried forward despite his death.<\/p>\n

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With Trump\u2019s return to the White House after the Biden administration, Ukrainian officials moved swiftly to cultivate relationships with Republicans close to him amid growing uncertainty over future U.S. backing. Graham became a central figure in those efforts, lawmakers said at the time. <\/p>\n

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