World leaders pay tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham

(AP) - NATO allies, Ukraine and Israel paid tribute to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham as a friend, partner and advocate of trans-Atlantic ties on Sunday, praising a politician who was a high-profile figure in global foreign policy before and during the era of President Donald Trump. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Graham, whom he met twice in the past week, visited Ukraine 10 times since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, and 'was here with our people when it was most needed.' He said that 'Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.' NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Graham was 'a powerful advocate for America who believed strongly in the NATO Alliance and was actively working to bring an end to Russia's war against Ukraine.' Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that 'Estonia will remember him as a steadfast friend, a strong supporter of NATO's eastern flank, and an unwavering advocate for Ukraine.' Latvian counterpart Baiba Braze said that he was 'among the strongest supporters of NATO and transatlantic relations (and) assistance to Ukraine in countering Russian aggression.' 'His commitment to the values of democracy, security, and international partnership earned him the respect and gratitude of many across Europe,' Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him 'a great friend of Israel' and 'a cherished friend of mine.' 'Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend,' Netanyahu said. Iranian state television announced Graham's death during a live broadcast in openly hostile terms. 'I congratulate the great nation of Iran on Lindsey Graham, the warmongering and anti-Iranian U.S. senator, having gone to hell,' the anchor said.