European leaders and officials from Ukraine and Israel have expressed condolences following the sudden death of US Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on Saturday at the age of 71, writes POLITICO.
Graham, a prominent Republican figure in Washington and a longtime advocate of tougher measures against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, had recently returned from an official visit to Kyiv before his death.
The senator began his political career in the US House of Representatives after being elected in 1994 and later entered the Senate in 2002. Over the years, he became one of the most recognizable conservative voices in American politics and a close ally of US President Donald Trump.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his support for Ukraine. "Senator Graham fought until the very end to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom and raise the cost of Russia’s war of aggression," she wrote on the social media platform X.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described Graham as "a true friend and a partner of Germany," while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was deeply saddened by the news, adding that "America and the world have lost a determined leader."
