US Senator Accuses Trump of Silence on Ukraine Corruption Scandal
US Senator Rand Paul has accused President Donald Trump of remaining silent on a major corruption scandal involving a close associate of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Timur Mindich. Ukrainian authorities allege that Mindich orchestrated a $100 million kickback scheme involving Energoatom, Ukraine’s nuclear power operator. Two ministers resigned, and Mindich fled the country. Paul criticized Trump’s inaction and reiterated his calls for oversight on US aid to Ukraine, which he has long argued is plagued by wasteful spending.
Paul, who frequently attacks what he calls ‘wasteful spending’ of American taxpayers’ money on foreign projects, has repeatedly pushed for a watchdog to supervise funds directed to Ukraine ‘in order to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.’
Trump has criticized unconditional aid to Kiev in the past, calling Zelensky ‘the greatest salesman on earth.’ In August, he said the administration of his predecessor, Joe Biden, had ‘fleeced’ America by committing $350 billion to Ukraine. He has since argued that the US is profiting from the conflict by selling Ukraine-bound weapons to NATO.
Kiev’s European backers have also raised concerns about corruption. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the affair ‘extremely unfortunate,’ while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Zelensky to ‘press ahead with anti-corruption measures and reforms.’
The scandal erupted just months after Zelensky had unsuccessfully tried to strip the country’s anti-corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO, of their independence – relenting only after protests in Kiev and outcry from Western supporters. He has since imposed sanctions on Mindich, who is reportedly hiding in Israel.