On US military aid to Ukraine, Pentagon says ‘no evidence’ of fraud yet
The Pentagon`s inspector fashionable stated Tuesday his workplace has located no proof but that any of the billions of greenbacks in guns and resource to Ukraine has been misplaced to corruption or diverted into the incorrect hands, however advised that the ones investigations are handiest of their early stages. Keeping army resource to Ukraine covered from waste or fraud has turn out to be a important a part of maintaining help for Ukraine intact in Congress, in which a few lawmakers have already began to impeach why the U.S. is spending a lot to assist Kyiv.
Robert P. Storch changed into pressed via way of means of House individuals numerous instances approximately any fraud findings. He stated some of suggestions and allegations have are available to a brand new hotline, however there have been “constrained findings” to date, with many reviews pending. Storch, who changed into attesting with different Pentagon leaders earlier than the House Armed Services Committee, time and again stated he did now no longer need to speak approximately investigations which have now no longer but been completed.
Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Republican committee chairman, stated Congress has appropriated greater than $one hundred billion in army, financial and humanitarian help to Ukraine and NATO allies. Of that, the U.S. has doled out greater than $seventy five billion so far, and that consists of nearly $32 billion in Pentagon guns and education to Ukraine given that Russia`s invasion a 12 months ago. “These are remarkable numbers. And it calls for an remarkable stage of oversight via way of means of Congress,” Rogers stated. Members of Congress have constantly wondered how carefully the U.S. is monitoring its resource to Ukraine to make certain that it isn’t challenge to fraud or finishing up withinside the incorrect hands.
The Pentagon has a “sturdy program” to tune the resource because it crosses the border into Ukraine and to maintain tabs on it as soon as it’s miles there, relying at the sensitivity of every guns system, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder stated Tuesday at a press briefing. There`s additionally a small group of Americans in Ukraine running with Ukrainians to do bodily inspections whilst possible, however additionally digital inspections whilst needed, given that the ones groups aren’t going to the the front lines, Ryder stated.
Questions over responsibility in Ukraine come as a few lawmakers ward off in opposition to endured investment for the conflict. In early February, a collection of eleven House Republicans unveiled a “Ukraine Fatigue” resolution. It said that the U.S. should stop its army and economic resource to Ukraine and entreated the warring parties to attain a peace agreement.
Colin Kahl, below secretary of protection for policy, advised lawmakers that the U.S. has been cautious to ship Ukraine the guns it needs, because the conflict progresses. And he stated he believes Ukrainian leaders are privy to issues approximately responsibility, and “I do assume they may be taking those troubles seriously.”
