White House finds no evidence of widespread corruption or misuse of US-supplied weapons in Ukraine
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There is “no indication of wide-scale corruption or misuse” of weapons provided to Ukraine by the United States, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said during a press briefing on Jan. 3.
“We are working very, very hard to make sure that every system that is provided to Ukraine, there’s a measure of accountability for it,” he explained.
“That — that we can assure the Congress and the American people that that materiel is being used appropriately on the field of battle.”
He noted that the U.S. has allocated specific staff to ensure accountability for U.S.-provided weapons systems.
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“The Ukrainians understand our need for accountability,” Kirby said.
“They share that, and they have made it clear that they’re willing to work with us on accountability measures for all the systems that are being provided.”
Weapons often go directly “right from the trucks and the trains to the hands of a soldier on the battlefield — not every one, but oftentimes, it’s that — it’s that fast,” said Kirby, adding that the Ukrainians “are using these things appropriately in defense of their country.”
Read also: Biden urges Congress for aid to Ukraine, expresses willingness to compromise
U.S. auditors collaborated with the World Bank and accounting firm Deloitte in Kyiv to conduct their audit in Jan. 2023. The inspection, led by U.S. Defense Inspector Robert Storch, aimed to ensure transparent use of international, including military, assistance.
Earlier, Kirby mentioned a halt in U.S. military aid to Ukraine, pending Congressional approval for additional funding.
The U.S. Congress went on Christmas holidays, without approving additional aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine will continue to resist Russia with the resources it has and does not have an alternative action plan while waiting for Western aid, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told U.S. news channel CNN on Jan. 3.
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