- The warrant was issued after a video released by Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office highlighted comments Graham made at a meeting Friday with the Ukrainian President
Russia’s Interior Ministry on Monday issued an arrest warrant for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., following his comments related to the fighting in Ukraine.
In an edited video of his meeting Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that was released by Zelenskyy’s office, Graham said: “The Russians are dying… it’s the best money we’ve ever spent.”
Graham was referring to the U.S. military assistance to Ukraine used in its war with Russia that is killing Russian soldiers and other combatants.
While Graham appeared to have made the remarks in different parts of the conversation, the short video by Ukraine’s presidential office put them next to each other, causing outrage in Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday that “it’s hard to imagine a greater shame for the country than having such senators.”
The Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation agency, has moved to open a criminal inquiry against Graham, and the Interior Ministry followed up by issuing a warrant for his arrest as indicated Monday by its official record of wanted criminal suspects.