Lindsey Graham breaks with Trump on 'problematic' Ukraine peace plan

In a rare break with President Donald Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) criticized the White House’s proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan Saturday, describing it as “problematic” while also urging Trump to reconsider.

“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 in a social media post on X.

The White House had drafted a new plan to end the war in Ukraine as reported by The New York Times this week, a plan that would see Ukraine cede significant amounts of territory and reduce the size of its military. Drafted without involvement from Ukrainian officials, the peace plan involves concessions that Ukrainian leadership has long labeled as nonstarters.

And for Graham, long seen as a reliable backer of Trump’s agenda, the Russia-Ukraine peace plan did not meet his standards.

“The goal of any peace deal is to end the war honorably and justly – and not create new conflict,” Graham continued. “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.”

Ending the war in Ukraine has long been a priority of Trump’s, though talks with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin have proven unsuccessful. Trump has pressed Ukraine to cede territory in recent months, going so far as to have a “shouting match” with Zelenskyy in October over his refusal to cede territory.