US President Donald Trump said he was concerned about corruption in Ukraine when he withheld aid last year. But his interference in Justice Department matters post-impeachment are eroding US institutional norms — and playing into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hand.
Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was charged Monday with conspiracy against the United States and money laundering, the first to come out of a sprawling probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
North of Kiev is the former estate of ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. Mezhyhirya was built with with millions in tax dollars and many people would like to turn it in to a “museum of corruption.” Those efforts have stalled, but you can still go on a tour.
Ukraine’s former president Victor Yanukovych spent more that $30 million on his personal estate before he fled for Russia. Think private zoo, crocodile skin-lined planters and a copy of John and Yoko’s white piano.
When Russia moved into Crimea last year, even NATO admits it was caught off-guard. But now a top NATO general says the West is alert to Putin’s plans, and is developing its own moves to stop him from expanding any further.