The analog we should be looking to isn't Pakistan or DPRK... it's Israel.
It's widely held that while the US and allies were publicly condemning Israeli pursuit of a nuclear weapons program, they were secret helping or at the very least cheering it on.
In short, Ukraine almost certainly has a program. At what stage? Who knows.
Also, regarding corruption. Yes. Ukraine is corrupt. Very. But the problem isn't that Ukraine is more corrupt than the west, it's that it is differently corrupt.
In the west we use loopholes and quid pro quo. In Ukraine they use bribery and intimidation. In the west you pay a family member to sit on a board. In Ukraine you just pay a bribe.
I don't believe the US was directly helping Israeli's nuclear weapons program, but I agree, they weren't putting Iran-like sanctions in place to stop it. The French probably had the most to do with helping them get the bomb. Also, good old-fashioned espionage. Bottom line, doesn't matter who it is, the world doesn't need another nuclear state, especially one with inherently weak institutions and a questionable stability status=Ukraine.
Of course, the US has corruption, too. But to say it's anywhere near the same level as Ukraine is disingenuous at best. The biggest problem with Ukrainian corruption is probably weak institutions.. That takes decades to develop, not a few years.
Not being honest about Ukraine and the bad things about the country does more harm than good for Ukraine's fight. Makes everything sound like BS pravda. See "Ukraine fanboy."
I've lived in Ukraine. I stand by my corruption statements. You can't install a vice-president/president son on a "fake" board in Ukraine (corruption) and then complain about the corruption in Ukraine and not at home. Not being honest about the corruption in the west does more harm than good.
The point is, using "corruption " as any standard for NATO or EU membership is an excuse.
The analog we should be looking to isn't Pakistan or DPRK... it's Israel.
It's widely held that while the US and allies were publicly condemning Israeli pursuit of a nuclear weapons program, they were secret helping or at the very least cheering it on.
In short, Ukraine almost certainly has a program. At what stage? Who knows.
Also, regarding corruption. Yes. Ukraine is corrupt. Very. But the problem isn't that Ukraine is more corrupt than the west, it's that it is differently corrupt.
In the west we use loopholes and quid pro quo. In Ukraine they use bribery and intimidation. In the west you pay a family member to sit on a board. In Ukraine you just pay a bribe.
I don't believe the US was directly helping Israeli's nuclear weapons program, but I agree, they weren't putting Iran-like sanctions in place to stop it. The French probably had the most to do with helping them get the bomb. Also, good old-fashioned espionage. Bottom line, doesn't matter who it is, the world doesn't need another nuclear state, especially one with inherently weak institutions and a questionable stability status=Ukraine.
Of course, the US has corruption, too. But to say it's anywhere near the same level as Ukraine is disingenuous at best. The biggest problem with Ukrainian corruption is probably weak institutions.. That takes decades to develop, not a few years.
Not being honest about Ukraine and the bad things about the country does more harm than good for Ukraine's fight. Makes everything sound like BS pravda. See "Ukraine fanboy."
I've lived in Ukraine. I stand by my corruption statements. You can't install a vice-president/president son on a "fake" board in Ukraine (corruption) and then complain about the corruption in Ukraine and not at home. Not being honest about the corruption in the west does more harm than good.
The point is, using "corruption " as any standard for NATO or EU membership is an excuse.
No one has earned membership more than Ukraine.