South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham strongly criticized President Donald Trump on Saturday after the White House unveiled a peace plan for Russia and Ukraine. Speaking out against one of Trump’s long-standing goals in foreign policy, Graham labeled the proposal “problematic,” urging reconsideration.
The draft agreement from Washington would involve significant territorial concessions by Ukraine to Russia alongside reductions in Ukraine’s military capabilities. Notably, it was formulated without consultation with Ukrainian officials—an omission that itself drew concern—and features terms rejected for months by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his administration as fundamentally unjust.
“While there are many good ideas in the proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan, there are several areas that are very problematic and can be made better,” Graham wrote Saturday on X. His assessment starkly contrasts with Trump’s stance, which has consistently pressed Kyiv to yield territory—most recently escalating tensions during a “shouting match” over this issue last October.
Moreover, the senator explicitly condemned the Ukrainian leadership for what he perceived as its unwillingness to negotiate under Russian terms. “Finally, to the world: what about the fate of the almost 20,000 Ukrainian children kidnapped by Putin’s forces? This issue has to be addressed in any negotiated settlement,” Graham added—a direct rebuke aimed at Zelenskyy’s handling of peace talks.
The lack of compromise demanded from Ukraine further fueled Graham’s critique. His comments highlight growing internal dissent among Trump-aligned figures regarding the approach to ending hostilities in Eastern Europe, emphasizing concerns over fairness and long-term stability if concessions are made prematurely or unfairly.
