Trump sees Ukraine among winners - Senator Graham

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that US President Donald Trump was impressed by Ukraine’s ability to turn the tide on the battlefield and sees the country as part of the winning side.

Graham made these remarks during a conversation with reporters on Friday, July 10, as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

“I think President Trump likes winners. And he sees Ukraine among the winners <...> What President Trump saw in Ukraine made a strong impression on him <...> Ukraine is putting very serious pressure on Russia,” Graham noted.

At the same time, the senator pointed out that it will not be possible to win the war by military means alone. He called on the world to stop buying energy resources from russia, the aggressor nation, in order to cut off funding for the war.

Graham expressed hope that the russian-Ukrainian war could be resolved through diplomatic means.

“If we boost Ukraine’s combat capabilities by providing it with technology, and at the same time make it clear to the world that it must help President Trump put an end to this war by stopping the purchase of cheap Russian oil and gas, — that will be a winning combination," the senator said.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, last Wednesday, July 8, CNN national security analyst and senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council Alex Plitsas stated that, according to reports, President Trump is aware of serious difficulties in the russian economy and of heavy losses suffered by the russian military.

Also on July 8, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. He told the Ukrainian leader that long-range strikes against russia constitute an escalation that could help create conditions for negotiations.

As a reminder, according to the Financial Times, Trump told Zelenskyy during a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit on June 16 that he was impressed by Ukraine’s recent military successes.