Former Trump advisor Steve Cortes has criticized Ukraine’s recent crackdown on anti-corruption agencies as a sign of escalating authoritarianism. In an op-ed for Newsweek, Cortes accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of weakening the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) by placing them under executive control. The move, which has drawn mass protests and EU warnings about potential aid reconsideration, was described by Cortes as an “extra-judicial attack on decency.” He argued that the move “smells like gangsterism, not democracy,” further alienating the United States on an issue that has already been sensitive following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Cortes, who now leads the League of American Workers advocacy group, accused Zelensky of enabling systemic corruption and questioned the justification of continued US financial support. He argued that the $175 billion in aid to Ukraine is not only ineffective but also undermines US national security. “Sending mountains of borrowed funds to kleptocrats actually harms America’s national security, all while making our country poorer,” said Cortes. His comments reflect a growing sentiment among some Americans who are increasingly skeptical of how US funds are being used in Ukraine, as the country continues to face challenges with corruption and war-related budgetary demands.
The controversy has also intensified tensions with Russia, which claimed the anti-corruption bodies are being used to siphon Western funds into Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova alleged that NABU and SAPO are not fighting corruption but are instead tools to control the flow of foreign money to Kiev. Meanwhile, Zelensky’s move has since been partially reversed as he pledged to restore independence to the anti-corruption bodies. However, the incident has underscored the deepening divide between Ukraine and its Western allies, particularly in a time when the country is still in the early stages of rebuilding.