As Vice President Joe Biden visits Ukraine this week, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor underscores that domestic corruption—in the economy and government—remains the key weakness in that country’s efforts to build long-term stability. Taylor, who is USIP’s executive vice president, returned recently from a trip to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, right, and Vice President Joe Biden talk during a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, Dec. 7, 2015. Biden assured Ukrainian leaders that Russian cooperation in Syria would not change America’s position, and also pressed them to do more to battle corruption.
Photo courtesy of NY Times/Mikhail Palinchak

On Dec. 10, USIP is co-hosting, with the U.S. Department of State, a discussion of the danger that corruption poses worldwide and possible ways to make progress against the scourge. The event, which is open to the public, features Ukraine as a case study, with a panel that includes Daria Kaleniuk, a co-founder and executive director of the Anticorruption Action Centre in Ukraine, and Ambassador William Brownfield, assistant secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the State Department. In an interview at USIP, Taylor says:

  • Ukraine’s civil society remains one of the country’s strengths. In the two years since the Euromaidan demonstrations that toppled President Viktor Yanukovych, that movement “has invigorated the politics [and] the demand for economic reform and political reform,” Taylor said.
  • More reforms are needed. “What’s not working yet is the implementation of the depth of reform that is necessary. Corruption in government and the economy remains entrenched and is holding back economic growth.
  • International sanctions on Russia are working.  “Economic sanctions have turned out to be the most effective tool that the West … has against this invasion” of Ukraine by Russia, he said. They “are having a real effect on the Russian economy … that is responsible for the relative backing-off of the Russians in Donbas.” While Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region are not fully respecting the ceasefire agreement, their attacks and the deaths of Ukrainian troops “are way down.” A continuation of those sanctions may force Russian President Vladimir Putin to remove Russian forces that are supporting those separatists in Donbas, he said. The sanctions should be sustained until Russia withdraws from Crimea, which it declared annexed last year, or otherwise resolves the Crimea issue to Ukraine’s satisfaction, Taylor said
  • The United States and its partners have delivered too little support to Ukraine so far. Despite widespread support in the United States for Ukraine, “we have not provided the magnitude of economic support that the Ukrainians need,” Taylor said.
  • Vice President Biden’s visit “is another demonstration” of U.S. political support for Ukraine. “Vice President Biden, to his credit, has really put his back into support for Ukraine,” Taylor said.


Related Research & Analysis

Can India Advance Peace in Ukraine?

Can India Advance Peace in Ukraine?

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, India has worked to protect its strategic relationship with Russia while maintaining its burgeoning ties with the United States and Europe. India’s balancing act was on display earlier this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia in July and made a historic trip to Ukraine the following month. Modi has portrayed a neutral stance on the Ukraine war and positioned India as a key player in any potential peace process.

Type: Question and Answer

Donald Jensen on the War in Ukraine’s Trajectory

Donald Jensen on the War in Ukraine’s Trajectory

Friday, January 3, 2025

As Ukraine considers the “politically loaded” question of whether to lower the age of military mobilization, Putin increasingly sees the war “not just as a land grab, but as a civilizational battle between Russia and the West,” says USIP’s Donald Jensen, adding: “We should not think that the war is anything close to being settled.”

Type: Podcast

Ukraine: The Inflection Point in the China-Russia Axis

Ukraine: The Inflection Point in the China-Russia Axis

Thursday, December 19, 2024

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has catalyzed a profound shift in global power dynamics: the deepening of the partnership between China and Russia. This relationship, while rooted in history, represents a significant departure from previous patterns of cooperation. China-Russia ties have evolved from a transactional relationship of convenience to a more durable strategic alignment, while continuing to fall short of a full-blown military alliance. This development challenges traditional Western assumptions about the limits of authoritarian cooperation and may signal the emergence of a new model of international partnership.

Type: Analysis

Protecting Water Infrastructure During War

Protecting Water Infrastructure During War

Friday, December 6, 2024

The weaponization of water resources is among the most devastating tools used in violent conflict. And while this tactic has been pervasive throughout history, it’s on the rise. State and non-state actors across the globe are increasingly exploiting the capture, control and outright destruction of water resources and related infrastructure to inflict indiscriminate human suffering and further their own strategic and military aims. To put this devastating trend into historical context: Out of all the recorded incidents targeting water infrastructure over the last 2,000 years, 41 percent have occurred since 2020.

Type: Analysis

View All Research & Analysis