Thursday, September 26, 2019

Pentagon Says Corruption Is Decreasing In Ukraine

Cpt. William Carter stands alongside multinational Soldiers during the Ukrainian Independence Day parade in Kyiv, Aug. 24. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Timothy Massey)

NPR: Pentagon Letter Undercuts Trump Assertion On Delaying Aid To Ukraine Over Corruption

Earlier this week, President Trump cited concerns about corruption as his rationale for blocking security assistance to Ukraine. But in a letter sent to four congressional committees in May of this year and obtained by NPR, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John Rood informed lawmakers that he "certified that the Government of Ukraine has taken substantial actions to make defense institutional reforms for the purposes of decreasing corruption [and] increasing accountability."

The certification was required by law for the release of $250 million in security assistance for Ukraine. That aid was blocked by the White House until Sept. 11 and has since been released. It must be spent before Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.

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WNU Editor: I have scores of relatives, friends, and contacts in Ukraine. All of them have been saying the same thing to me this year. The dysfunction of the Ukraine state and the culture of corruption that exists is worse now then ever before. It is one of the four reason why Volodymyr Zelenskiy was elected Ukraine's President this year (the other three being the economy, rescinding discrimination laws targeting Ukrainian-Russians, and the war). But according to the Pentagon, corruption is decreasing!!!!! So who is right? My 100 relatives/friends/contacts who live there, or a few people in the Pentagon who made this determination. My money is on my family.