Who is Senator Lindsey Graham? The GOP Hawk Leading US Support for Ukraine

It’s just after US Vice President JD Vance gave his now-infamous speech at the 61st Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2025. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy is on stage with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Sheldon White, Jeanne Shaheen, and John Cornyn at a session titled “Strategic Investment: Future of US-Ukraine Security Cooperation.”

Suddenly, Graham asks: “How do you deter Putin?” Then he turns and points at Zelenskyy, “You arm this guy to the teeth. (…) Because they will fight. Remind me not to invade Ukraine, okay? It just doesn’t work out well.”

In contrast to his Republican counterparts, Graham is fully onboard when it comes to funding and arming Ukraine. Last April, nearly 100 house republicans voted against Ukraine funding, though some US House members rejected an attempt by Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar of Arizona to cut off aid to Ukraine completely, signaling that some bipartisan support for Ukraine persists, notably through Graham himself.

From a military background to the US Senate

Graham’s extensive military background is a key factor shaping his stance on US foreign policy. During the Gulf War, he was called to active duty, preparing troops for deployment. Graham’s military service propelled him into the US House of Representatives in 1994. When Republican Senator Strom Thurmond retired in 2002, Graham ran for his seat, winning the election with over 54% of the vote and taking office in 2003.

Decidedly a complex character, Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul is quoted as saying Graham is a “danger to the country,” where others see his usefulness. “He has the ability to ring up the president at any time, night or day, he really does,” said Maine Senator Susan Collins.

Graham’s ability to bridge political divides makes him a precious asset for both the US and Ukraine, while also defining him as a complete outlier in today’s political climate. As defined by The New York Times, “Senator Graham’s ability to collaborate with Democrats on foreign policy issues sets him apart in today’s polarized political landscape.”

Effectively, dichotomy seems to define Graham. An interventionist among anti-interventionists, Graham’s clairvoyance when Russia is concerned can be dated back to 2014 when Russia began a war against Ukrainian sovereignty and attempted to illegally annex Crimea.

One of the only republicans to grasp the seriousness of the situation, Graham spoke out, “President Obama needs to do something. How about this: suspend Russian membership in the G-8 and the G-20 at least for a year, starting right now. And for every day they stay in Crimea, add to the suspension.”

How Graham became a vocal supporter of Ukraine

“I am a dog with a bone on the things I care about,” Graham told The Washington Journal, a particular trait which has made him a lot of enemies such as former Fox News host Tucker Carlson who defined Graham’s saying his, “effect on the United States is so destructive,” while Steve Bannon called on getting Graham’s passport canceled so he wouldn’t get involved in other countries’ affairs.

Talking about the effect, since April 2025, Graham has been leading a bill, The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, with his democratic counterpart, US Senator Richard Blumenthal.

The bill proposes a 500% tariff on goods from countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports. In particular, it targets China and India, which together account for about 70% of Russia’s energy trade. By aiming at Russia’s customer base, it seeks to pressure Russian leader Vladimir Putin into negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

Recently, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Russia to engage in peace talks with Ukraine, threatening to impose 100% secondary tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Russia if no agreement is reached. This announcement reads as a workaround of Graham’s bill, yet it would still place him at the center of significant diplomatic change.

“The current version (of Graham’s bill) would subject the president’s foreign policy decisions to micromanagement by Congress through a joint resolution of disapproval process,” said an official speaking anonymously to US news outlet Politico. “That’s a nonstarter for us.”

Despite this fact, the Trump administration’s shift—finally threatening Russia with tariffs—signals Graham’s steadfast position on Ukraine, which he has consistently expressed to the US president—often during rounds of golf—is now paying off.

Moreover, Graham played a key role in pushing the minerals deal through. One anecdote also centered around golfing, has him presenting a map of Ukraine’s mineral resources, to which the president allegedly responded, “I want half.”

What drives Graham’s foreign policy vision

Graham’s strategy, which he announced in 2024 on Fox News, to host Sean Hannity, was always to pass the minerals deal, but especially, to interest Trump on a monetary level.

“This war is about money,” Graham said. “People don’t talk much about it. But you know, the richest country in all of Europe for rare earth minerals is Ukraine. Two to seven trillion dollars’ worth of minerals that are rare earth minerals, very relevant to the 21st century. Ukraine’s ready to do a deal with us, not the Russians. So it’s in our interest to make sure that Russia doesn’t take over the place.”

The American politician has received substantial contributions from defense contractors throughout his career, according to the Washington DC-based nonprofit organization OpenSecrets. During the 2022 election cycle, Graham’s campaign committee received $111,798 from Lockheed Martin, $54,147 from Northrop Grumman, and $28,216 from Raytheon Technologies.

The continuous flow of defense contracts benefits Ukraine’s strategic goals while also impacting the US defense sector, culminating in the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, a part of which is specifically dedicated to strengthening Ukraine’s defense sector.

His partnership with the Democrat Richard Blumenthal on the sanctions bill strengthened his credibility among key defense contractors, which ensured continued political and financial backing at a time when US support for Ukraine was at its lowest.

In response to Russia delivering tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, Graham was quoted in 2023, saying: “Senator Blumenthal and I want to put everyone on notice that the threat of the use of a nuclear device by Russia is real. The best way to deter this threat is to give Putin’s Russia clarity as to what happens if they use nuclear weapons, (…) If you do this and follow his order—you can expect a massive response from NATO. You will be at war with NATO.”

As Graham doggedly pursues his goal, shaking hands with Zelenskyy, Trump, the EU, and democrats, all eyes turn to what comes next for Ukraine.