US warmonger dies a day after returning from Kyiv

Republican United States Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has died at the age of 71 following what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness."

In a statement released on Sunday, Graham's office confirmed that he died on Saturday evening.

"Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," the statement said.

While no official cause of death was immediately disclosed, US media reported that emergency services responded to a cardiac arrest call at Graham's Capitol Hill residence on Saturday night. NBC News reported that paramedics transported him from the residence by ambulance.

Graham's death came a day after returning from Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A vocal supporter of continued US military assistance to Ukraine, Graham had travelled to the country numerous times since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

US President Donald Trump led tributes to the veteran senator, describing him as a close ally and patriot.

"Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

President Zelenskyy also expressed his condolences, describing Graham as a steadfast supporter of Ukraine.

"We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations. We met twice in just the past week," Zelenskyy wrote, adding that Graham had recently been working on stronger sanctions against Russia.

First elected to the US Senate in 2002, Graham served South Carolina for more than two decades and became one of Washington's most influential voices on foreign policy. Over the years, he was known for advocating a more assertive US military posture abroad and for supporting tougher sanctions against Russia.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Graham drew international attention after publicly suggesting that Russians should remove President Vladimir Putin from power. He later argued that continued US military assistance to Ukraine was in America's strategic interest and repeatedly called for increased economic pressure on Moscow.

The Kremlin had frequently criticised Graham's remarks, with Russian officials describing him as one of the West's most outspoken critics of Moscow.

Graham's death leaves a vacancy in the US Senate representing South Carolina. Under state law, the governor is expected to appoint an interim replacement until a special election is held.