Fresh U.S. sanctions package in limbo after Lindsey Graham death — Politico

The author of the article recalled that the senator had just returned to Washington from Ukraine, where he held a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced that an agreement had been reached with the White House on a new version of the bill concerning sanctions against Russia.

His efforts had raised hopes that fresh pressure will be exerted on Moscow.

Now, Lindsey Graham’s allies on this issue could potentially unite to pass the package of measures in honor of the senator's memory, Politico noted.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen stated that "there could be no more fitting monument to Lindsey, his legacy, and the causes he fought for than passing this legislation and fulfilling his long-held dream of an independent and secure Ukraine."

However, this initiative could find itself in limbo, the publication stated. Its primary champion on Capitol Hill is gone, and its second most critical supporter, Mitch McConnell, is also absent.

On July 11, The Guardian wrote that uncertainty surrounding the health of Republican Senator Mitch McConnell is intensifying ahead of the U.S. Congress's return from recess next week. It was noted that the 84-year-old McConnell was not seen in public since his hospitalization in Washington on June 14.

On July 12, McConnell broke nearly a month of silence to issue his first statement, clarifying that the cause of his hospitalization was a loss of consciousness and a subsequent fall.

The loss of a key Ukraine ally

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham died on the evening of July 11 (Saturday) after a sudden deterioration in his health, his office announced. NBC News reported that emergency services received a call on Saturday evening regarding a heart attack at Graham's home on Capitol Hill.

According to medical examiners and the official statement from the politician's representatives, the cause of death was an aortic dissection due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The official cause will be formally announced following the completion of toxicological and microscopic studies.

On July 10, the 71-year-old senator was on a visit to Ukraine and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He was a consistent and staunch supporter of Ukraine.

Lately, Lindsey Graham had been pushing a bill on sanctions against Russia, and on July 10, he declared that senators had successfully reached an agreement with the White House on a new version of the document.