Lindsey Graham dies from illness after returning from Kyiv trip
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U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has died at the age of 71 on the evening of July 11 from a "brief and sudden illness" after a recent trip to Kyiv, his office announced on July 12.
The Republican senator from South Carolina was recently in Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 10 to discuss strengthening Ukraine's air defense and progress on a Russian sanctions bill in the U.S.
Graham also visited the factory of Skyfall, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer, and backed U.S. partnerships with Ukrainian drone makers.
"Lindsey Graham was a steadfast friend of Ukraine, who well understood that our struggle is a fight for freedom, democracy, and a just world order. His voice in the U.S. Senate carried weight, and his support for our state was principled and active," Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk wrote on X.
"Just recently, he was in Kyiv, where he spoke about continued support for Ukraine and the decisions necessary to counter Russian aggression. I will always remember our meaningful, sincere, and warmly human meetings."
According to NBC, Graham was back at his Capitol Hill home when emergency services responded to a call reporting a "cardiac arrest."
An ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, Graham was seen as one of the most pro-Ukraine voices in the Republican Party and consistently backed U.S. military support for the embattled country.
