Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), once a vocal champion of Ukraine, sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday following a fiery Oval Office confrontation with President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. The explosive exchange, which derailed a planned U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal, prompted Graham to question Zelenskyy’s viability as a partner, suggesting he may need to “fundamentally change or go.”
The showdown erupted when Zelenskyy accused Trump and Vance of failing to curb Russia’s aggression, asserting that the U.S. wasn’t truly “engaging in diplomacy.” Trump fired back, calling Zelenskyy “disrespectful” to America and its taxpayers, who’ve poured billions into Ukraine’s defense.
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“You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country,” Trump snapped, as Vance nodded in agreement. The meeting, meant to seal a mineral extraction pact, ended abruptly with Trump canceling the signing and a joint press conference, leaving Zelenskyy to exit the White House under a cloud.
Graham, speaking to Fox News later that day, didn’t hold back. “Everything I and many have been working for to try and get a new relationship with the United States around our critical minerals deal … was completely obliterated today,” he said. “It was an absolute, utter disaster.” Having met Zelenskyy that morning to urge positivity—“be grateful, be thankful”—Graham lamented the Ukrainian leader’s combative stance. “The question for me is, is he redeemable in the eyes of Americans?”
The senator, who’s visited Ukraine nine times since Russia’s 2022 invasion and once called U.S. aid “the best money we’ve ever spent,” praised Trump’s handling of the clash. “He gave a masterclass in how to stand up for America,” Graham said, suggesting that adversaries like China and Iran should take note. “Most Americans, after what they saw today, would not want Zelenskyy to be their business partner—including me.” He hinted at a leadership shakeup, stating, “Zelenskyy’s either gonna have to fundamentally change or go,” though he expressed hope for an apology to mend ties.
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Trump doubled down on Truth Social, writing that Zelenskyy “is not ready for peace” because U.S. support gives him “a big advantage in negotiations.” He had touted the mineral deal as a step toward a ceasefire, but Friday’s fallout cast doubt on future cooperation. “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you’ll have the cards,” Trump told Zelenskyy, warning of the stakes: “You’re gambling with millions of lives.”
Graham’s shift marks a stunning pivot for a lawmaker who’s long backed Ukraine, even calling for Vladimir Putin’s assassination in 2022—a stance that drew a Russian arrest warrant. His frustration reflects broader GOP fatigue with Ukraine’s demands, despite its fierce resistance to Russia. “Ukraine’s an important ally, they’ve fought like tigers, I don’t want Putin to win,” he said. “But it’s hard to help people who seem unable to realize the moment they’re in.”
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The fallout has left U.S.-Ukraine relations hanging by a thread, with the mineral deal—a linchpin for economic and strategic ties—now in limbo. Graham, uncertain if the damage can be undone, signaled a turning point: “I can’t believe most Americans … would want to be partners with Zelenskyy after this.” As Trump’s America First stance clashes with Zelenskyy’s plea for unwavering support, the path forward remains murky, with one of Ukraine’s staunchest defenders now questioning its leader’s future.
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