In response to the arrest order filed by Russia on Monday, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Republican, made a bold statement, asserting that he would cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) if Russia does the same.
The arrest order from Russia came after Graham publicly accused the country of committing war crimes in Ukraine and praised the United States’ military support to Ukraine as an investment well worth it. These remarks were made during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Now, Graham is challenging Russia to present its case before the ICC, stating that he would accept the court’s verdict if Russia does as well.
Addressing his Russian counterparts, Graham declared on Monday, “Here’s an offer to my Russian ‘friends’ who want to arrest and try me for calling out the Putin regime as war criminals: I will submit to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if you do.” He concluded his statement by saying, “Until we meet again in The Hague.”
Graham has proudly stated that he considers the arrest warrant against him as a “badge of honor.” His unwavering support for Ukraine and his condemnation of the Putin regime’s actions are a source of immense pride for him. He vowed to stand by Ukraine until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory, firmly advocating for Ukraine’s freedom.
The conflict in Ukraine has taken a significant toll, with the United States estimating that Russian forces have killed nearly 42,000 Ukrainians since the invasion began in February 2022. Russian casualties include 180,000 injured soldiers and an estimated 50,000 deaths among their forces. The Ukrainian armed forces have also suffered greatly, with 20,000 fatalities and 130,000 injuries over the past 15 months.
The tensions between Graham and Putin’s government escalated further due to drone attacks on both Moscow and Kyiv. Russia has been relentlessly targeting the Ukrainian capital with missiles, drones, and bombs, with the majority being intercepted by Ukrainian defenses. However, in an unprecedented turn of events, Moscow was struck by drone attacks, marking the first time the Russian capital faced such an assault.
Reports from Moscow residents indicated the sound of explosions, and the Defense Ministry later claimed that the city had been targeted in a “terrorist attack” launched by the “Kyiv regime.” The ministry stated that they had successfully destroyed five drones through gunfire, while three others had their systems disrupted, causing them to veer off course.
As tensions escalate and international scrutiny intensifies, Senator Lindsey Graham remains resolute in his support for Ukraine and his willingness to cooperate with the ICC, should Russia choose to follow suit.