Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) praised President Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach during a Monday appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” saying Trump’s strategy ahead of his Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin could both end the war in Ukraine and prevent future Russian aggression. Graham argued that Trump’s firm stance and economic leverage offer a sharp contrast to the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict.
Graham emphasized that Trump’s policies focus on deterrence through strength, economic incentives, and clear diplomatic goals. He said the goal should be “no third invasion” of Ukraine, urging Trump to be direct with Putin while avoiding the mistakes of the Obama and Biden administrations. According to Graham, a realistic resolution would include land swaps, continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine, and significant arms sales to European nations to strengthen defenses.
The senator revealed that President Trump negotiated a deal valued in the hundreds of billions—over a trillion dollars—for mining Ukraine’s critical minerals, with the U.S. receiving half of the output. Graham called this both an economic boost and a deterrent to Russian aggression. He also suggested securing Ukraine’s defense through European guarantees, forming a “Coalition of the Willing” that would respond collectively to any future Russian invasion.
Graham proposed implementing pre-invasion sanctions to economically cripple Russia if it attempted another offensive. He also highlighted Trump’s recent moves that have unsettled Moscow, including a 50% tariff on Indian imports of Russian oil—the second-largest source of Russia’s wartime revenue. Graham said this action, along with Trump’s plan to sell weapons to Europe for Ukraine’s defense, likely prompted Putin to seek a meeting in Alaska.
Graham concluded that Trump’s relationship with Putin, paired with a “peace through strength” approach, positions him as the best leader to negotiate an end to the war while preventing future hostilities and countering China’s ambitions.
