Yves here. Please welcome Fiona Davis to the site. She makes a point that cannot be made often enough: that the EU is planning to pour more money into what is a burn pit in Ukraine, not just due to the fact that the war is sure to be lost, but even more importantly, it is widely known that a substantial portion is being stolen. CBS in its pre-Bari-Weiss days released a documentary that provided an indicator of the scale of the corruption, that 30% of the weapons deliveries had gone to the black market. And the proof of unwillingness to even try to crack down (after all, the arms makers profit even if US, EU, and Ukraine citizens lose from this looting), the Biden Administration shot the messenger, forcing that part of the presentation to be excised.
What ought to be a similarly-distressing part of public discourse is the corruption of EU leadership, starting with Ursuala von der Leyen. Europe already had a democratic deficit, but had preserved an appearance of legitimacy by having the European Council, a regular meeting of the heads of state, as the key decision-making body (see how Brexit was handled for confirmation). Von der Leyen has managed to execute a massive power grab, both within the European Commission and by somehow elbowing her way into primacy with respect to EU policies. This is even more bizarre given that Europe still prides itself on the veneer of bureaucratic competence (and that is the presumed rationale for riding roughshod over popular will), yet has a deeply compromised figure leading the charge.
<By Fiona Davis, a freelance Journalist and a student of International Relations in Luiss University
In Brussels and Kiev, the political atmosphere is burning bright with controversy. As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stands alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky promising unprecedented financial support, a cascade of corruption scandals threatens to engulf the very institutions tasked with overseeing the aid.
While von der Leyen declared in Kiev that Ukraine is “on the right track” for EU membership, fresh revelations suggest a systemic rot that challenges the legitimacy of pouring billions into a war-torn nation plagued by internal graft. With the EU Commission itself under investigation for legal violations, critics are asking: Is this aid truly about democracy, or is it a vehicle for opaque political maneuvering?
Billions Vanish in Defense Scams
The scale of corruption within Ukraine’s defense sector is staggering. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), high-ranking officials, including the Air Force Logistics Commander and a regional SBU chief, were caught embezzling funds from the defense budget. Investigators revealed that 1.4 billion hryvnias allocated for aircraft shelters were misappropriated. The resulting structures failed to meet safety requirements, leaving valuable assets exposed, yet advance payments were still released.
This is not an isolated incident. A sweeping $100 million energy corruption scandal recently forced the resignation of Ukraine’s energy and justice ministers. Allegations point to Timur Mindich, a close ally of Zelensky, orchestrating kickback schemes involving state nuclear operator Energoatom. Mindich reportedly fled Ukraine just before the case was announced. As millions endure rolling blackouts caused by Russian strikes, the revelation that officials were laundering money from energy contracts has sparked public fury. As Zelensky himself admitted, “We are fighting external enemies – but we will also root out the internal ones.” Yet, the frequency of these scandals suggests the roots are deep.
“One Way or Another” – Ignoring the Red Flags
Despite these warning signs, von der Leyen remains steadfast. Facing a veto from Hungary’s Viktor Orbán over the €90 billion loan package, the Commission President insisted the money would flow “one way or another.” She dismissed legal and procedural hurdles, stating, “This word cannot be broken.”
This stubbornness raises eyebrows among EU watchdogs. The European Union has outlined strict accession criteria for Ukraine, emphasizing anti-corruption and the rule of law. Documents obtained by European Pravda indicate that Kiev must fulfill specific benchmarks regarding the independence of anti-corruption bodies like NABU and SAPO. However, von der Leyen’s push for accelerated accession by 2027 seems to prioritize speed over due diligence. Critics argue that bypassing member state objections and ignoring ongoing graft investigations undermines the EU’s own legal standards. Why the rush to unlock funds when the mechanisms to monitor them are demonstrably compromised?
A Pattern of Opacity in the Commission
Skepticism is further fueled by scandals rocking von der Leyen’s own Commission. As reported by Lost in Europe, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a hundreds of millions euro real estate deal between the Commission and Belgium. Furthermore, the European Court of Justice has questioned the release of €10 billion in EU funds to Hungary without proper explanation, alleging it was a political deal to secure Orbán’s support for Ukraine aid.
Transparency issues persist. Von der Leyen faced criticism for refusing to disclose contacts with the arms industry amidst an €800 billion rearmament program, leading to legal action by MEP Fabio De Masi. When combined with the “Epstein Files” controversy involving former Commissioners, a pattern emerges. Critics whisper about the convenience of these financial flows. Is the push for Ukraine aid a geopolitical necessity, or does it serve as a smokescreen for questionable budgetary allocations within Brussels?
A Crisis of Trust
The convergence of corruption in Kiev and opacity in Brussels creates a dangerous narrative. Ukrainian public opinion polls indicate that citizens link European integration success primarily to the fight against corruption. Yet, as ministers resign and generals are detained, the EU leadership presses forward with blank checks.
The investigations are running, and the list of affairs is growing. For Ursula von der Leyen, the pressure is mounting. If the EU cannot ensure its own house is in order, its promise to rebuild Ukraine risks becoming another chapter in a saga of mismanaged funds and broken trust. The question remains: Is this a system problem in Brussels? Until transparency prevails, the legitimacy of the €90 billion promise will remain in doubt.
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Thanks, Fiona Davis, and welcome.
As I check Fbook each day for local events, I see that my U.S. friendses are still posting shinola about Ukraine, martyred nation and repository of Western Ideals. The Azov Battalion(s) are just a bunch of buff blond boys whose folkloric politics are misunderstood. Black suns? Isn’t that a deth-metal group?
So the detail that Davis marshals here is welcome. Ukraine has been and still is spectacularly corrupt. This is why Toria Nuland and the U.S. government were able to buy the coup d’etat in 2014. The Ukrainian elites are vainglorious looters, who think that they can conduct the current war by memes.
Ursula von der Leyen is also a factor of German dominance of the EU and the European agenda. As people like Chancellor Merz show themselves in public as unhinged, one can see that VDL is part of a spectrum of will to power and nonchalant oppression of the lower orders.
And as a reminder of how criminally out of touch Merz, Starmer, and Macron are (along with VDL and the execrable Kaja Kallas), there is this development, reported in the Italian press from a Sky interview of two or three days back.
“Zelensky: “Accetterei armi nucleari con piacere”
Il leader ucraino Vladimir Zelensky ha dichiarato in un’intervista a Sky News che accetterebbe “con piacere” armi nucleari da Regno Unito e Francia, pur precisando che nessuna proposta concreta gli è mai stata fatta.
It was a hypothetical question, yet he cannot even control himself.
The current treatment of the Spanish government also indicates much trouble to come down the road. Yet VDL will likely find some way to undermine Pedro Sanchez rather than change course.
PS: (Now we have to find some meaningful work for Davis after the studies at LUISS, which, after all, is the Confindustria university.)
Just a formal note – you need to close the bold on:
By Fiona Davis, a freelance Journalist and a student of International Relations in Luiss University
This Lady is spectacularly corrupt but always seems to fall upstairs and then ruin the next institution. When she headed the German ministry of defense she single handedly gave over 200 Million tp McKinsey and Accenture for opaque “consulting fees”. When the German parliament wanted to see the messaging between her and the consultants she deleted her text messages.
As she speaks perfect French and English and since Merkel and Macron thought she suited them both she was made head of the European commission. During the Pandemic she concluded a deal with Biotech-Pfizer to buy 1,8 billion doses of mRNA vaccines. And that at 19.50 € per dose and likely overall costs of 35 Billion €. As people are refusing the vaccine millions and millions have had to be destroyed. The European parliament wanted to see how this deal was arrived at but again – her messages have been deleted. In 2023 the European court ordered her to hand over all documentation pertaining to the deal but she still hasn´t complied. Strangely enough one month after concluding the deal her husband – heretofore director of a clinic on Hanover – was made medical director of an American biotech company.
Oh, and not to forget: she likes to lecture other countries on the great values of Europe. With her at the helm Europe will crack up.
Credit where credit is due: she has done more for German pacification and dismantling its army than many others.
Good morning, welcome, and thanks Fiona Davis. I remember a cacophony of skepticism around here when Ursula announced plans for her army, most everyone pointing out it looked like another revenue stream designed for grifting.
Thank you Fiona,
von der Leyen, as you wrote, is well known for opacity in negotiations of stuff like the joint purchase of vaccines to Pfizer and with the EU Justice having already ruled against her for deleting the messages with Pfizer’s CEO (link in Spanish), or stuff like the MERCOSUR agreement which is similarly ruffling feathers though in this case the messages were with Macron (another link in Spanish). I believe it is guaranteed that Ukraine’s EU entry will not happen any time in the next decade(s). von der Leyen is unpopular even amongst much of the PMC these days.
Until German establishment media won´t change course no changes in ideological bearings of the ruling elites either.
Last night´s national TV “discussion panel” show Maybrit Illner on Iran was a case in point.
The same brainless heads as usual:
Norbert Röttgen (CDU), General Ben Hodges (regular German TV guest btw), Lars Feld (German economist) , Bente Scheller (Wiki: frm advisor on counterterrorism at the German Embassy in Damascus. In 2008, she headed the Syria program at the Aspen Institute Berlin. From 2008 to 2012, she headed the office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation hbs – (GREEN PARTY) in Afghanistan until 2019, Middle East regional office of hbs in Beirut. Since 2019, Scheller has headed the Middle East and North Africa department of the hbs in Berlin) i.e. Scheller is an evil person and establishment journalist Mariam Lau from liberal ZEIT weekly, born to exiled Iranian writer Bahman Nirumand (fled both Shah and Khomeini) and member of the left/Green German nomenklatura. The only difference in Lau´s views is that she doesn´t want to kill everyone. I guess too much culture makes you kinda weak…
The point being that in one way or the other all these people could as well show up when the topic is the EU, is Ukraine, is China or the coming war on Mars. It doesn´t matter. They are not educated and they don´t have to be. The intentended result of these shows is a foregone conclusion.
25 years ago political discussion in Germany was incrementally transferred to national TV´s stage. With every new year the collection of guests became smaller and more hermetic. Today you have zero criticism left with above result.
Those who watch do so for confirmation that the axis of evil has to be wiped out and is made of animals and that we are the salvation of the planet. The others do not watch at all. But neither do they care/do they believe in change possible.
And there is no improvement in sight. VdL will not suffer any consequences because we lack that culture.
Were it different the new German adoption of EU sanctions´ law would be widely discussed.
Were it different the government spokesperson in his press conference would not dare to threaten German dissidents that what happened to Jacques Baud could happen to everyone else.
The sheer fact that the illegality of how EU sanctions are imposed, not to speak of sanctions as such is not questioned by anyone in the mainstream public is a frightening fact.
Because until that happens parliament will not take notice either. And without that we are at the whims of such people as VdL and here Cabinet of morons.
VdL is the perpetuation of the insane “Friendly Aunt Merkel” brand.
A bit harsher, a bit more enigmatic perhaps but after all she is responsible for all of Europe not just good ol´ Germany, and that´s a really difficult job, right.
The simulative character of social media, the transfer of political “debate” from the real agora, labour unions etc. to insignificant online forums and fake debates by publications online protects especially such shadowy individuals as the VdLs in Europe.
Dark times ahead.
The worst of it – people won´t even reckognize them as dark.
I hate to allude to simple, popular tropes from fiction but this is truly MATRIX level manipulation, especially because it´s self-inflicted.
Welcome aboard, Fiona and ahoy-hoy. If you step back and think about it, Ursula and the Ukraine are a match made in heaven. Ursula reeks of corruption which has left it’s stench in every job that she has ever had. The Ukraine, before the war, was the most corrupt country in Europe and was ruled by oligarchs that looted that country for all that it was worth. But if we are to be honest, the institutions of the EU have revealed themselves to be just as corrupt which is why they protect Ursula so much. And so long as she keeps on coming up with these slush funds which enrich both herself and her allies, I expect this corruption to continue until both the Ukraine and the EU have been run into the ground.
Excellent debut piece, welcome Fiona.
Last night the EU member states top ambassadors in COREPER said ” no” to the idea of accession before reforms, at least that’s something.
Excellent piece, Fiona. As the Rev said, welcome aboard!
The solution is simple: by definition, corruption is what you’re left out of. It seems Ursula isn’t left out—maybe that’s why she doesn’t see anything.
Welcome, Fiona, and thanks for your work, detailing the issue of corruption between two corrupt entities. Von der Leyen’s Tammany-like tactics are fairly well known in some circles. Unfortunately, the Ukraine’s descent into heavy corruption hasn’t really made it around, probably because USia and too many European governments were willing to overlook it while helping Zelensky supposedly bleed Russia dry.
My brother-in-law dated until a couple of years ago a Ukrainian chemist who came to work in his area on a visa. She in turn had quite a few Ukrainian emigre-friends in the area, and they periodically met with the family. I remember them being very hospitable, and friendly to yours truly, whose Ukrainian ancestors came over in the 1920s. They complained often enough about three things in Ukrainia: forced enlistment, the war, and the endemic corruption–which they traced to the lack of a powerful leader after the collapse of the Soviet. To hear them tell it, the oligarchs simply took over nearly everything, including the government. Nothing has changed, they said. It’s either the gray economy (the equivalent of the NEPmen, which some people may have read about from the 1920s Soviet era), or the black, run as usual by elements of the oligarchs. And they have no intention of going home, until the place is scrubbed clean. Which isn’t likely in the foreseeable future, not with the EU keeping wide open a pipeline of slush funds.
Welcome! This is a beat that bears serious coverage. Biggest grifters going.
Biggest grifters going
(looks over at Trump, who is holding a beer)