When the war in Ukraine comes to an end, Western-financed rebuilding will begin in earnest. What no one wishes to acknowledge is that pre-war Ukraine was even more corrupt than Russia. Will the Ukrainian people, having paid such a steep price for victory, stomach corrupt practices siphoning off coveted development resources? Unlikely. How can the West help?
To start, why not immediately inaugurate an Office of Reconstruction and begin planning? This office must comprise a robust anti-corruption office staffed with both Western and Ukrainian investigators and prosecutors. It should have special legislative powers in order to bring to justice those who would steal money intended to benefit the average Ukrainian. Such an office will not only serve the needs of Ukraine, it will help assure the West that their aid money is properly spent.
The Ukrainian people will not tolerate fat cat businessmen and corrupt government officials siphoning off money meant to improve their futures. Given the right tools and Western assistance, the Ukrainians will do to corruption what they are doing to the Russian army.…… tearing it apart piece by piece.