Ukraine recognized as one of the most corrupt nations by Trump's advisor

In a chatty, straightforward conversation with Brian Kilmeade on Fox News, National Security Advisor to the U.S. President, Mike Waltz, stressed the importance of keeping a close eye on how Ukraine spends the financial aid it receives.

During their discussion, Waltz discussed the outcomes of President Trump's trip to the Vatican and his meetings with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. The leaders discussed a resolution plan during their encounter, which Waltz described as "historic" due to the face-to-face diplomatic talks. Kilmeade underscored the prolonged fighting, noting the high costs, both financially and in terms of lives lost.

In an interview with rbc.group, Waltz expressed his belief that Ukraine could have focused on signing a deal on natural resources instead of addressing President Zelensky's personal issues. Last week, such an agreement was indeed reached between Ukraine and the U.S., according to FT.

The talks between Zelensky and Trump, taking place in the Oval Office in March 2025, were significant. At the time, Vice President Mike Pence was also present and criticized the Ukrainian authorities, including their mobilization law. In response, Zelensky emphasized that "everyone has problems during a war," but Ukraine is uniquely affected. Following their exchange, it was reported that Trump ordered the Ukrainian delegation to leave the White House.

Waltz raised concerns about the past administration's oversight of the billions of dollars in funds provided to Ukraine. He advocated for closer monitoring of these funds. Trump had repeatedly urged Ukraine to cover the costs of the support they received, particularly through an agreement on mineral resources. However, Kyiv initially refused to sign the first version of the document due to a compensation clause. Trump estimated Ukraine's obligations to the U.S. at $400-500 billion. According to the Kiel Institute in Germany, the U.S. provided Ukraine with $123 billion in aid during the conflict.

A report by the Pentagon's Inspector General Robert Storch, submitted to Congress in May 2024, revealed that corruption in Ukraine remains one of the highest in Europe despite a decrease since 2013. The report also highlighted corruption within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, particularly during the procurement of lethal weapons.

In a bid to combat corruption, Zelensky proposed treating it as high treason during a state of emergency. He insisted that no money had been stolen from their partners and accused reports of widespread corruption in Ukraine of being a Russian ploy to create a rift between the West and Kyiv.

Still, concerns about financial aid oversight in Ukraine persist, with USAID audits ongoing to ensure compliance and significant cuts to USAID-funded programs, causing a temporary halt in disbursements for many organizations. The European Union provides financial support with conditions for maintaining democratic mechanisms and respecting human rights. However, specific concerns from Mike Waltz regarding potential corruption need further exploration.

Mike Waltz, during his conversation with Brian Kilmeade on Fox News, emphasized the importance of monitoring how Ukraine spends the financial aid it receives, given the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region.
In a historic encounter, President Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky discussed a resolution plan during their face-to-face diplomatic talks, with Kilmeade noting the high costs, both financially and in terms of lives lost.
In an interview, Waltz questioned Ukraine's focus on addressing President Zelensky's personal issues instead of signing a deal on natural resources, as a similar agreement was reached between Ukraine and the U.S. last week, according to FT.
The Pentagon's Inspector General Robert Storch reported in May 2024 that corruption in Ukraine remains one of the highest in Europe, despite a decrease since 2013, with notable corruption within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense during the procurement of lethal weapons.
Amid concerns about potential corruption, President Zelensky proposed treating corruption as high treason during a state of emergency, insisting that no money had been stolen from their partners and accusing reports of widespread corruption in Ukraine of being a Russian ploy to create a rift between the West and Kyiv.