US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz went on record calling Ukraine “one of the most corrupt countries in the world,” throwing shade at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for dragging his feet on finalizing a crucial minerals agreement with the United States. The tension arises as the US and Ukraine engage in negotiations aimed at granting US companies access to Ukraine’s abundant natural resources, such as graphite, lithium, uranium, oil, and gas, through a collaborative investment fund. This deal, kickstarted by the Trump administration, is seen as a way for the US to recoup some of the support it has provided to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Although the resources at stake are valued at a whopping $500 billion, the actual amount of US assistance to Ukraine since 2022 falls significantly short, totaling only $98.5 billion.
“Ukraine was and is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. We must always protect our taxpayers; billions of dollars have been poured in there. I think the previous administration exercised proper oversight over the funds it provided,” Waltz stated in an interview with Fox News.
It’s worth noting that while Ukraine does have corruption issues, branding it as “the most corrupt country in the world” often stems from Russian propaganda. In the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024 by Transparency International, Ukraine secured a score of 35 out of 100, landing it in 105th place out of 180 countries. This ranking suggests a moderate level of perceived corruption, but it’s certainly not the worst globally. On the flip side, Russia fared much worse, coming in at 154th with a score of 22, indicating higher levels of corruption perception.
Ever since the Revolution of Dignity in 2014, Ukraine has been actively implementing anti-corruption reforms. These reforms include the establishment of institutions like the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), the enactment of anti-corruption legislation, and fostering public involvement in reporting corrupt practices. The fight against corruption stands as a pivotal goal for Ukraine as it strives for EU membership.
In a February meeting at the White House with President Trump, Waltz criticized Zelenskyy’s handling of the situation, suggesting that the Ukrainian leader squandered a “historic opportunity.”
“Instead of trying to correct the President in the Oval Office during their first meeting, Zelensky could have been sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with him, signing a minerals agreement,” Waltz remarked.
The Oval Office rendezvous was meant to seal the deal on a mineral resources agreement in exchange for US aid. However, things took a turn for the worse when Trump accused Zelenskyy of being ungrateful and disrespectful, causing the Ukrainian president to leave prematurely without signing any agreements. The Trump administration’s proposal included US oversight of Ukrainian nuclear power plants, a sticking point that irked Zelenskyy, who voiced his frustration over the ever-changing conditions.
As of late April 2025, Ukraine and the US have inked a memorandum of intent and are in the final stages of hammering out the minerals agreement. Despite the progress made, concerns linger among Ukrainian officials and soldiers regarding the terms of the agreement. Some see it as unjust and liken it to theft, fearing that it could compromise national sovereignty, siphon profits overseas, and deepen reliance on Washington. Ukrainian soldiers, in particular, remain skeptical of Western security assurances, recalling past broken promises like the Budapest Memorandum in 1994. They insist that concrete military support, such as advanced weaponry like F-35s, is the key to helping Ukraine reclaim its lost territories.
Zelenskyy has pledged to keep the Ukrainian public informed about any potentially risky elements in the agreement and vowed not to sign any document that could jeopardize Ukraine’s prospects of joining the EU. The road to finalizing the minerals agreement between Ukraine and the US remains fraught with challenges, but both parties seem determined to see it through.
So, yeah, that’s the gist of what’s going down between the US and Ukraine. Not really sure why this matters, but hey, that’s the news for ya.
