Photo: Screenshot from the video
It is not true that Graham said “The Russian are dying. It’s the best money we have ever spent”, while the clip claiming such a thing has been wrongfully edited. A longer version of the conversation, published by the Ukrainian Government, followed by Reuters, inter alia, shows that both segments – put within the framework of the same comment – are actually not linked. Graham himself confirmed his statement was incorrectly represented in the video, clarifying for Reuters that he simply commended the spirit of the Ukrainians for resisting the Russian invasion with the aid secured by Washington, writes Truthmeter.mk.
Under the content-sharing agreement between Truthmeter.mk and Meta.mk, we republish the text below:
Post on the social network Facebook (Screenshot here) claims that USA Senator Lindsey Graham, during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Russians were dying and that it was the best money ever spent (US money). This is not true. The video has been edited, while Senator Graham has not uttered these sentences in the same context.
United States Senator Lindsey Graham: “The Russians are dying… it’s the best money we’ve ever spent.” (Reuters)
On 26 May, Senator Lindsey Graham visited Kyiv and met the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing his support for Ukraine’s resistance.
During his travel, however, the Republican from South Carolina became a party in the information war between Moscow and Kyiv after his comment was taken out of context and armed with propaganda from both sides, in order to promote respective narratives.
In the short video shared on social networks, it looks as if Graham during his interaction with the Ukrainian leader was saying “And the Russians are dying” and seemingly he adds “Best money we have ever spent”.
The video was published for the first time on the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian Government on Friday – 26th May – and very soon afterward, attacks by Russian Government officials ensued.
Press Secretary of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, called Graham’s statements “shame” for the United States.
Russian Internal Affairs Ministry put the Republican from South Carolina on the wanted persons’ list, after accusing him of cheering the deaths of Russians in the war in Ukraine.
Graham, Lindsey Olin, American, born 9 July 1955, wanted in accordance with the Criminal Code”, announced the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, published news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti.
In the meantime, many pro-Ukrainian channels and editions swiftly quoted Graham in an attempt to incite patriotic feelings and mock the “occupiers”.
Soon after the reactions against Graham escalated, it turned out that his comments were falsely edited in the short clip – by merging a few different comments of his.
The longer version of the conversation, which was published by the Ukrainian Government, followed by Reuters – shows that both segments, inter alia, – framed as part of the same comment – in actual fact, were not linked.
In the first part, Zelenskyy is expressing his gratitude to the United States and the allies for their “unreserved support” of Ukraine, stating that the American support since the beginning of the invasion exceeded “$38 billion”.
To that, Graham responded:
”Best money we have ever spent”, adding that that was “457th day of the war that was supposed to last three days”.
Further in the conversation, the following discussion takes place:
Graham: You remind me of our better selves in America. There was a time in America when we were this way – fighting to the last person. Be free or die!
Zelenskyy: Free or die. Now you are free. And we will be.
Graham:…And the Russians are dying.
Zelenskyy: Yes, but they came on our territory, we are not fighting on their territory.
Graham personally confirmed that his comments were falsely presented in the video, explaining to Reuters that he simply commended the spirit of the Ukrainians in resisting the Russian invasion with the support of Washington.
After being put on the Russian wanted list, the senator confirmed his dedication to provide support to Ukraine, stressing that he will carry his arrest warrant as a “badge of honor”.
Knowing that my dedication to Ukraine attracted the wrath of Putin’s regime brings me immense joy. I will continue to stand for the liberty of Ukraine until every Russian soldier is not expelled from Ukrainian territory.
His comment also incited a fierce response from Russian politicians and propaganda experts. The Deputy President of the Security Council of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, called the 67-year old Republican an “old fool”.
The old fool Lindsey Graham said that the US never spent money so successfully as for killings of Russians, said Medvedev. He shouldn’t have done that.
Replying to the email of Reuters News Agency, Graham responded to Medvedev’s comments by saying that – as usual – the Russian propaganda machine was working hard.
Mr. Medvedev, if you want the Russians to stop dying in Ukraine, retrieve! Stop the invasion! Stop the war crimes! Truth is that you and Putin do not care much for the Russian troops.
This statement is the latest example of how public announcements can be taken outside contexts and armed with propaganda goals in a conflict that started 16 months ago. According to all specified facts, we assess as untrue the claim that Graham stated “And the Russians are Dying. Best money we have ever spent”, while the video of such a statement as fabricated.
