This is John Batchelor. I spoke to John Herps, the Senior Director of the Eurasian Center for the Atlantic Council,

former Ambassador to Ukraine, former Ambassador to Uzbekistan, served in Jerusalem during the difficult late airfat years.

Asking a question about corruption in Ukraine, often cited by critics of the key support from the Biden administration

corruption. John answers bluntly about the national interest looking past what are the facts to a bigger canvas as we have in the past.

Here's John.

Okay, I would call this the great of corruption caper and I'll explain that and

this comes back to the way you introduce this subject.

Our assistance to Ukraine is based upon American national interest

because Putin is pursuing a policy designed to undermine our security and our prosperity.

It is not simply philanthropy for Ukraine.

If you understand that, then our assistance to Ukraine is warranted even if there is a problem

of corruption in Ukraine.

You know, we provided substantial lend-liece aid to Britain before we entered World War II.

We also provided substantial lend-lease assistance to the Soviet Union, which had a totalitarian regime, which

also considered the United States a foe, albeit a necessary ally to defeat Hitler, just as the Soviet Union was a necessary ally to defeat us.

We did not let, properly did not let, the evil of the Soviet system prevent us from sending aid to Stalin, truly

one of the great monsters in human history. That served our national interest.

So today our aid to Ukraine protects our security, protects our

prosperity. That's why we send the aid. That's why I call it the great corruption caper because

people who don't understand our strategic interests in stopping Putin raised the issue of Ukraine as a dodge from the real issue, which I've just described.

Having said all that, you're right. Corruption is a problem in Ukraine.

When I was ambassador, I worked against it. Right. Corruption is a problem in Ukraine.

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