Graham wins Senate approval of war crimes resolution against Putin

WASHINGTON - After winning approval of a war crimes resolution against Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, Sen. Lindsey Graham urged the Biden istration to make it easier to get weaponry to Ukrainians who are fighting off Russian ruler Vladimir Putin’s forces.

He made the announcement at a news conference after Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskyy met virtually with Congress to ask for help.

“I am urging the Biden istration to reconsider sending the MiGs, as well as additional air defense capability,” said Graham, R-S.C.

Graham said he believed the idea would have overwhelming bipartisan citing the war crimes resolution that ed unanimously through the Senate on Tuesday.

“I think there’s more than a handful of Democrats that would like to do something with the jets,” Graham said. “So the bottom line is, while the NATO no-fly zone seems to be a bridge too far for me and the istration. There is bipartisan for sending a package that includes fighter jets and air defense systems to Ukraine immediately so that we can have a Ukrainian no-fly zone.”

Graham said he was introducing a new Senate resolution Wednesday afternoon to urge the Biden istration to transfer 28 MiG fighter jets and additional air defense capability to Ukraine.

“A world where Ukraine survives against the atrocities being committed against them by Putin, his armed forces, is a much brighter world,” Graham said.

Graham went on talk about the video shown to Congress by Zelenskyy during Wednesday morning’s meeting showing images of Ukraine before and after the Russian invasion saying he was urging the Senate to speak with “one voice” and to “meet the moment.”

“We’ve been talking,” he said. “We have written letters. It’s now time to take votes.”

The senator said he thought ing the resolution to provide more military aid to Ukraine could help the outcome in Ukraine.

“If we had a vote on the resolution to supply the Ukrainian military with the MiG fighters and other air defense systems, it would be a shot in the arm for the Ukrainian people and their military,” Graham said. “It would be a blow to Putin.”

War crimes resolution

The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution late Tuesday seeking investigations of Putin and his regime for war crimes over the invasion of Ukraine.

The bipartisan measure from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., says the Senate strongly condemns the “violence, war crimes. crimes against humanity” being carried out Russian military forces under Putin’s direction. It encourages international criminal courts to investigate Putin, his security council and military leaders for possible war crimes.

“These atrocities deserve to be investigated for war crimes,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The measure was approved swiftly and without dissent as lawmakers in Congress continue to muscle a bipartisan show of force against the Russian war in Ukraine. First introduced almost two weeks ago, the Senate resolution would not carry the force of law, but is another example of Congress providing the Biden istration political to take a tough line against Putin’s aggression.

Last week, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris embraced calls for an international war crimes investigation of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, citing the “atrocities” of bombing civilians, including a maternity hospital.

The resolution:

Strongly condemns the ongoing violence, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses being carried out by the Russian armed forces and their proxies and Putin’s military commanders, at the direction of Putin.
Encourages member states to petition the ICC or other appropriate international tribunal to take any appropriate steps to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian armed forces and their proxies and President Putin’s military commanders, at the direction of Putin.
s any investigation into war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses levied by Putin, the Russian Security Council, the Russian Armed Forces and their proxies, and Putin’s military commanders.
Encourages the U.S. government and partner nations to use their voice, vote, and influence in international institutions in which they are to hold President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Security Council, the Russian armed forces and their proxies, and Putin’s military commanders able for their sponsorship of ongoing violence, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic human rights abuses.
Stands with the people of Ukraine who have been affected by the brutality of the Putin regime.