U.S. Media: Losing Graham, Kyiv Faces Multiple Difficulties
An analysis by The Washington Post pointed out that the sudden passing of U.S. senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has deprived Ukraine of its most central and stable Republican supporter in Congress, casting uncertainty over future U.S. aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
On July 10, Graham visited Kyiv and announced a diplomatic breakthrough. After more than a year of arduous negotiations with the White House, he successfully advanced preparations for a bipartisan bill targeting sanctions on Russia, aimed at precisely undermining Russia’s wartime economy and pressuring Moscow to end its military actions against Ukraine. Graham had explicitly stated that this was the most promising opportunity in five years to compel Putin back to the negotiating table. However, on July 11, he died suddenly from aortic dissection, a development that completely disrupted Ukraine’s and its allies’ strategic positioning in Congress.
As a key diplomatic liaison between Ukraine and the United States during the Trump administration, Graham had long been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine. Since the Crimea crisis in 2014, he was among the first U.S. politicians calling for the delivery of defensive weapons to Ukraine and consistently advocated a hardline stance toward Russia. His untimely death comes at a critical juncture, compounded by the fact that numerous Republican lawmakers supportive of Ukraine are set to leave office early next year, while the overall Republican position on supporting Ukraine continues to weaken—posing long-term political risks for Ukraine.
To carry forward Graham’s political legacy, multiple U.S. pro-Ukraine lawmakers have called on Congress to expedite the consideration of the sanctions bill. Former Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Michael McCaul stated that advancing the bill is the best way to honor Graham’s memory. Senate Democratic leader Blumenthal confirmed that the bill has already secured sufficient votes and enjoys full backing from the White House.
Nevertheless, the progress of the bill remains uncertain. With Congress scheduled to adjourn in August, it remains unclear whether the legislation can be completed on time. Republican insiders admit that the bill was entirely driven by Graham himself, and no one else can match his level of influence and momentum. Additionally, the bill lacks broad support—only 18 Republican lawmakers voted in favor previously, far short of the massive backing seen in the 2022 large-scale aid package—and so far, it has only passed the House of Representatives, not yet reached the Senate floor for debate.
Moreover, although Trump has publicly expressed support for the sanctions bill, his past positions have been inconsistent, leaving room for personal discretion, further increasing the uncertainty of the situation. Looking ahead, as the core pro-Ukraine force in Congress continues to dwindle, isolationist sentiments grow within the party, and the loss of a pivotal driving figure, Ukraine will face significant challenges in securing future U.S. military aid, political support, and leverage in pressuring Russia.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870658406395904/
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