"In "As Ukraine Looks to Its Future, Skip the European Union" (Political Economics, June 16), Joseph Sternberg claims that, to secure continued foreign support, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky "is pushing ahead with corruption prosecutions within the Ukrainian military." This is a commendable effort, but after working in Ukraine for many years, I wouldn't bet big on a breakthrough success, especially in the middle of a protracted conflict.
Despite Mr. Zelensky's lofty election promises to root out corruption, the Ukrainian state has largely remained a kleptocracy, its resistance to Russia notwithstanding. Since first events in 2014, a large illicit arms market has emerged in Ukraine. The enormous surge in Western money and equipment -- much of it transferred hurriedly without strong oversight -- has opened new avenues for graft and self-dealing in the Ukrainian army. As Leon Trotsky warned a long time ago: "The army is a copy of society and suffers from all its diseases, usually at a higher temperature."
Istvan Dobozi
Sarasota, Fla." [1]
1. Corruption Won't Be Slain Easily in Ukraine. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 22 June 2023: A.16.
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