Graham Fires Back at Ukraine’s Zelensky After Citizenship Offer, Doubles Down on Criticism

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a long-time advocate for Ukraine, has responded to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky’s suggestion that he should move to Ukraine to lend his voice more weight, escalating a recent spat between the two, Fox News reports.

The exchange began after Graham suggested that Zelensky should consider resigning as president of Ukraine. In response, Zelensky said:

“Lindsey Graham is a very good guy…I can give him Ukrainian citizenship, then his voice will gain weight.”

Graham retaliated on X:

“Unfortunately, until there is an election, no one has a voice in Ukraine.”

The South Carolina Republican further elaborated on his position, stating on X that he has “tried very hard” to maintain his support for Kyiv, and that he admires Zelensky’s leadership during these challenging times.

“I, like so many others, can only give advice,” Graham wrote. “It’s up to President Zelensky (sic) to determine whether or not to take it.”

This latest development follows a tense meeting between Zelensky, President Trump, and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office. Graham described that meeting as a “complete utter disaster.”

Following the Oval Office meeting, Graham told reporters:

“He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change,” referring to Zelensky. He further added, “I have never been more proud of the president. I was very proud of JD Vance standing up for our country.”

Graham slammed Zelensky’s “disrespectful” behavior during the meeting:

“I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again.”

According to Graham, he doesn’t believe Americans view Zelensky as someone they can “go into business with” after the televised dispute.

While emphasizing the “vitally important” Ukrainian-American relationship, Graham expressed doubt that Zelensky could ever “do a deal with the United States,” indicating a growing rift between the senator and the Ukrainian president.