WASHINGTON – Referring to the memory of his late friend Senator John McCain, Senator Lindsey Graham, RS.C., called on the international community to unite in condemning Vladimir Putin, who sent Russian forces to invade Ukraine last week. The invasion has resulted in civilian casualties, a new refugee crisis and fears of a conflict that could engulf large parts of Europe.
Graham used a press conference Wednesday morning to call on the US government to “prosecute war crimes charges against Vladimir Putin and his military commanders” through institutions such as the International Criminal Court or the International Court of Justice. His resolution also confirms that the United States “stands by people who have been affected by the brutality of the Putin regime.”
Putin’s conviction seems to be the only sentence that unites Washington today. In line with this trend, Graham described the Russian president as a “war criminal” who committed war crimes against Syria while enriching himself in the process of exploiting Russia’s oil and gas reserves. Graham also warned Russian military commanders that “you may end up in The Hague” – where the ICC is based – if they have committed atrocities against Ukrainian civilians.
The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court, while the Council of Ministers is a United Nations body with judges from Russia and China who would find it difficult to engage in meaningful prosecution of Putin. This dynamic makes the resolution that Graham introduces largely symbolic – a demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine more than, in all likelihood, a realistic means of bringing justice to justice for Putin and his top commanders.
However, Graham took the opportunity to condemn Putin – just hours after President Biden did the same in his address to the state of the Union on Tuesday night. “The world has allowed him to get away with too much too long,” Graham said of Putin, who came to power in 2000 and has been ruthlessly consolidating power ever since. “He stole the Russians blindly. He killed Russian citizens in order to maintain his iron power over the country.
Graham was joined at a news conference Wednesday by Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., The first and only Ukrainian-born member of Congress. Sparz reads from painful stories of Ukrainians fleeing a Russian attack that appears to be intensifying after early failures. “They just kill us like we’re animals.” She said as Graham stood up grimly beside her.
The scene was somewhat reminiscent of a congressional hearing in 2017, in which Graham and McCain invited Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza to testify about Putin. Kara-Murza has revealed that he believes he has twice been the victim of poisoning, the Kremlin’s preferred tool for quelling dissent. “It is very clear that Vladimir Putin has decided to eliminate his opponents and anyone who defends democracy and freedom,” McCain said at the time.
McCain, who died of brain cancer in 2018, was a close friend of Graham and a strong supporter of the post-war international order, who saw the West scrutinize the Kremlin at every turn. McCain was a staunch critic of former President Donald Trump, whom he accused of undermining the prestige of the United States; Graham, on the other hand, has emerged as one of Trump’s closest allies, including during the impeachment proceedings stemming from the president’s attempt to blackmail Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
On Wednesday, we saw Graham, known from the years before Trump.
“Putin is not a genius; he is a war criminal, “Graham said, referring to Trump’s praise of the invasion of Ukraine. Graham called the praise a “mistake,” though he added he thought he understood what Trump was trying to say.
Graham acknowledged that relations between the United States and the ICC were “unstable.” Trump imposed sanctions on the court, although Biden overturned the order. “If you don’t have a place like this, you have nowhere to hold Putin accountable,” Graham said, acknowledging that the Kremlin is largely isolated from domestic consequences – and given the wide reliance on its energy reserves (including the United States), international too.
In response to a question from Yahoo News, Graham said that despite his solid image, Putin is actually playing a weak hand. “I’m not Dr. Phil here. I have never met a man. I know there is a very large mass, “Graham joked, referring to photos of Putin’s unusual position during meetings with advisers.
Then things got serious again. “I think it’s noisy,” Graham said. “I think the Russian people are losing their savings. I think their economy is on the verge of death. “Increased international pressure, he predicted, could end Putin’s grip on Russia.
Where are Russian forces attacking Ukraine? Check out this explanation from Yahoo Immersive to find out.
