NO MORE AID TO UKRAINE—PEACE POSSIBLE WHEN USA MONEY ENDS.

 

September 27, 2023. 

DEMOCRATS AND SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE ARE PROPOSING AN ADDITIONAL $6 BILLION DOLLAR AID PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE AS PART OF A STOP-GAP DEAL TO END THE BUDGET IMPASSE. A BAD IDEA. 

Some in Congress support blank-check spending in Ukraine, with no `end and no accountability for how these funds are spent. Continued blank check funding only incentivizes the war. 

Ukraine is awash in foreign money. The USA alone—the largest donor,—has sent Ukraine over $120 billion dollars in cash, aid and outright gifts, while the EU and NATO added an additional $30 billion. Canada donated $10 billion, Poland $5 billion, and many other nations added to this largess.   Today,  the total amount of monetary aid to Ukraine hovers at @ $200 billion dollar mark. This for a nation with a population of only 40 million.   Two hundred billion dollars for Ukraine is equivalent to a handout of about $5,000 for every man, woman and child in Ukraine.  ($200,000 million/40 million = @$5,000 dollars for each Ukrainian citizen).   Before the war in 2021, Ukraine’s entire gross domestic product was just $ 200 billion dollars.  This nation is being swamped with cash.

Then too, almost all of that cash and investment is completely unaccounted for.  As a result of this “free for all” windfall of loans, gifts, and  money, inflation in Ukraine is rampant. In July 2023, inflation in Ukraine surged above 18%. While money poured in to the nation in 2020, GDP soared to over 19% above  its pre-war level.  As a consequence of this tsunami of cash reports of corruption skyrocketed, even being reveled by official government sources.  Ukrainian elites have been exposed buying multimillion dollar properties in “millionaire resort towns” such as Gstaadt, Switzerland.  Zelenskyy has a $4 million dollar real estate portfolio of city apartments, several commercial properties and five parking facilities. Domestically, with so much money in the hands of corrupt officials,—home and business properties  prices in Ukraine, even in-war torn regions, have risen in value by 75% in less than two years. Why? 

Corrupt Ukrainian entrepreneurs have access ro nearly unlimited funds for personal self- emolument and investment.  Battered war-torn homes and business properties are purchased and reconditioned for sale at massively inflated prices. This nation is awash in money. Money is fungible !! 

 For too many in Ukraine, war is a money-making proposition. Peace and compromise can only be possible when the monetary incentive for the Ukrainian elites ends.  The end of bombardment, the awful destruction, the human and societal toll, the death dealing— the threat of a nuclear exchange, will only come to an end when the incentive for war—-the US money train— ends. 

But lets not put all the blame on the greed and self-serving elements in Ukraine. Ukraine has been a cash cow for many in our own government. ( Recent revelations exposed the infamous activities of the Biden family, which is heavily invested in Ukraine.) In the Senate, we have, on both sides, many who take cash or gifts from defense industry lobbyists and do the bidding of this vested interest. Like the Ukrinan elites and just as guilty are US “war monger” politicians who are also in this dangerous war for profit and self-interest.