Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s press office released this edited video of him with US Senator Lindsey Graham during their meeting last Friday, in which the latter smiled as he said, “The Russians are dying…It’s the best money we’ve ever spent.”
On Sunday, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Graham’s comments by saying, “it’s hard to imagine a greater shame for the country than having such senators,” and on Monday, Russia’s Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation agency, opened a criminal inquiry against Graham, according to the Associated Press. In addition, Russia’s Interior Ministry issued a warrant for his arrest.
The Daily Mail reported that the head of Russia’s state-controlled broadcaster RT and other Russian officials called for the South Carolina senator to be assassinated. However, it appeared that Graham’s comments were taken out of context after a longer version of the video was made public.
In the full-length video version of the meeting between Graham and Zelenskyy, what Graham actually said was the sending of US aid to Ukraine – not the actual deaths of the Russians – was a valuable investment in global security for the United States.
As a result of the deceptive editing by Zelenskyy’s press office, Russia has moved forward with issuing an arrest warrant for the GOP senator.
Graham fired back:
“I will wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin’s corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor,’ said Graham. ‘To know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putin’s regime brings me immense joy. I will continue to stand with and for Ukraine’s freedom until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory.
“Finally, here’s an offer to my Russian ‘friends’ who want to arrest and try me for calling out the Putin regime as being war criminals: I will submit to jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if you do. Come and make your best case. See you in The Hague!”
Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov voiced an angry response:
“Your dirty American money also fully supported the Nazi regime in Germany! You are a Nazi beast and you’re following in the footsteps of your predecessors. I’ll repeat it once again: you will croak, but the Russian people will live forever!”
