Senator Graham: Trump sees Ukraine among the victors

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has stated that former President Donald Trump now sees Ukraine as being among the victors in the ongoing conflict. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, Graham suggested that Trump's perspective has shifted because he "likes winners," and he is currently impressed by Ukraine's success.

Graham elaborated that Trump was surprised by the Ukrainian people's resilience in fighting for their freedom and their ability to alter the war's trajectory. "I don't want to speak for President Trump, but he was simply amazed by the success of the Ukrainian people in fighting for their freedom," Graham said. He added that Trump is also interested in the advanced technologies being developed in Ukraine, seeing potential future applications for the U.S.

Despite Ukraine's military successes on the front lines, Graham emphasized that diplomacy will be crucial in bringing the war to a close. He stressed that Ukraine must maintain a strong position to achieve this. "You will not win this war on the battlefield alone. But Ukraine is indeed putting great pressure on Russia," Graham explained. "My hope is to end this war through diplomacy. The more opportunities we have to put pressure on Putin, the greater the chance of achieving a result."

Graham also suggested that strengthening Ukraine through the sharing of advanced technologies and increasing pressure on Russia by reducing global reliance on its oil and gas could aid Trump in achieving a war's end. During his visit to Kyiv, Graham presented several strategic initiatives, framing the war's conclusion around economic pressure on Russia and technological superiority. He mentioned that a draft bill for strict U.S. sanctions against Russia has been coordinated with the U.S. presidential administration. Graham specifically highlighted Ukraine's achievements in developing drone systems, stating it would be a mistake for the U.S. not to cooperate in this area, as it would enhance the defense capabilities of both nations.