Ukraine Corruption Storm Deepens: Zelensky’s Former Top Aide Under Scanner | Firstpost America |N18G

Added: 2026-05-13

[00:00:04]Hello and welcome to First Post America, your home for the biggest stories shaping the US and the world. I'm Carrie Johnston, live from the First Post studios. Our top story on the show today the world holds its breath as Trump and Xi prepare to meet in Beijing, but who will emerge stronger?

[00:00:20]Also on the program, everyone knew the US and Israel were at war with Iran, but another country may also have been involved.

[00:00:29]Could Ukraine's biggest corruption scandal yet damage Zelenskyy's wartime leadership and shake Western trust in Kyiv?

[00:00:37]And America once symbolized stability and opportunity, but is growing frustration pushing some Americans to leave?

[00:01:03]After months of global tensions, the world's two biggest powers are preparing for high-stakes showdown in Beijing.

[00:01:09]President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on his trip from May 13th to 15th. The meeting comes as the world is facing war in West Asia, a fragile global economy, a growing AI race, and deepening US-China rivalry.

[00:01:23]So, the big question now is, when Trump and Xi sit across the table, who really holds the upper hand? The summit is expected to focus on five major issues: Iran, trade, artificial intelligence, rare earth minerals, and Taiwan. And each of these issues could shape the future of the global economy and international security. Iran is expected to dominate the talks. The United States wants China to help pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and return to negotiations.

[00:01:53]The stock markets are of course hoping that the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will lead to productive discussions, particularly regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. And so, the hope is that a solution will be found here, which can then be implemented with Iran as well.

[00:02:15]The Chinese could well have a major influence on the Iranian government in this regard.

[00:02:22]But there's a complication. Washington accuses China of indirectly helping Iran by buying huge amounts of Iranian oil.

[00:02:29]Treasury Secretary Sigal recently said China purchases a huge amount of Iran's oil exports. China was purchasing more than 90% of their oil, which is about 8% of China's energy [clears throat] needs.

[00:02:43]We believe this blockade in the straits, there will be a pause of Chinese buying, but I will tell you that uh two Chinese banks received letters from the US Treasury. I'm not going to identify the banks, but we told them that if we can prove that there is Iranian money flowing through your accounts, then we are willing to put on secondary sanctions.

[00:03:08]At the same time, the US also wants Beijing's help to stabilize the region.

[00:03:12]Despite the Hormuz crisis, China appears better prepared than many other countries. Beijing has built massive oil reserves, expanded pipelines with Russia and Central Asia, and rapidly moved towards electric vehicles and renewable energy. Experts say China is less vulnerable to energy shocks today than many of America's allies. But China has its own weak spot, exports. Its economy is now heavily dependent on selling goods overseas. And the Iran war has slowed import demand in many key markets. But that could force Beijing to focus more on trade stability during the talks.

[00:03:48]I think he will want to have to look for stability, see if he can get the United States to think, well, how do you resolve the conflict in the Middle East, in the Gulf, and bring more stability to the region because it is going to affect it is affecting China's energy sourcing.

[00:04:10]I think Xi Jinping is also looking for a sense of status, if you will.

[00:04:18]Uh that China is there looking responsible, seeking stability in the world, behaving um responsibly, trying what it can behind the scenes to resolve these conflicts.

[00:04:34]Well, trade may in fact become the most sensitive issue of the entire summit.

[00:04:37]The US and China have been locked in a trade war for years. Tariffs, sanctions, and export controls have hit both economies. But, China now holds a major advantage in one area, and that's rare earth minerals.

[00:04:51]These materials are essential for everything from smartphones to missiles and fighter jets. China controls most of the global supply chain and has already used export restrictions as leverage against Washington. Reports suggest the two sides may discuss extending their trade truce along with possible Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft and American soybeans. Another big battlefield is artificial intelligence.

[00:05:15]The United States still holds an edge in advanced AI, but Washington is trying hard to keep that lead. The US has restricted China's access to advanced AI chips and high-end semiconductors.

[00:05:27]Beijing sees those restrictions as a direct attempt to slow China's technological rise. Because for China, AI is not just about business, it's about military power, global influence, and long-term strategic survival.

[00:05:40]Both sides may discuss AI safety cooperation, but the competition between them is growing by the day. Then there's Taiwan, perhaps the most explosive issue in US-China relations.

[00:05:51]Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory. United States does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign country.

[00:05:58]But it continues to support Taiwan's defense capabilities. Taiwan I equated a little bit to that. You have the right president, I don't think it'll happen. I think we'll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows I don't want that to happen.

[00:06:14]Uh very far away, very very far away.

[00:06:17]We're just at 9,500 mi.

[00:06:21]And then we're 9,500 mi, he's 67 mi.

[00:06:26]It's a little bit of a difference, but you know, there's a lot of There's a lot of support for Taiwan from Japan and from countries from that area.

[00:06:35]But China is expected to push Trump to take a softer position on Taiwan and reduce arms support to the island. But Washington is unlikely to make any major concessions. Because for the US, Taiwan remains central to its strategy in Asia.

[00:06:50]During President Donald Trump's visit to China, the two heads of state will have an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning China-US relations, as well as world peace and development.

[00:07:01]China's opposition to the United States sale of weapons to China's Taiwan region is consistent and clear.

[00:07:10]So this summit may not produce a grand breakthrough, but it could decide how the world's two largest powers manage their rivalry in an era of war, technology, and global economic uncertainty. With so much at stake, the entire world will be watching closely.

[00:07:26]For more on this, we're joined by Volker Stanzel, who's a former German ambassador to China and Japan, now at the German Institute for Foreign and Security Affairs, live from Berlin. Now, we appreciate you joining us. Welcome to the program. How do you judge the balance of power going into this Trump-Xi summit?

[00:07:45]Right. Thanks for having me.

[00:07:47]You started your introduction with asking who of the two will come out as the stronger after their meeting. And I think first we should have a look at who's going into the meeting how strong.

[00:07:58]And here we have a different situation to earlier visits by Donald Trump to China in 2017 or 2020.

[00:08:08]Now he is clearly the weaker partner of the two.

[00:08:12]And the reason is the Ukrainian and Russia policy of the United States or of Donald Trump which is uncertain, unreliable. So it weakened the uh It It weakened the image of Donald Trump as well as the position of the United States, I'd say. And American treatment of the Iran war, I mean, they started the war is something that has even weakened America further because threatening like throwing the country back into the Stone Age or to eliminate it the Iranian civilization at all is of course not a serious statement. And at the same time he has not yet won the war as he has um predicted so many times in the beginning. So he seems to go in a weak position into the meeting with Xi Jinping. Now as far as Xi Jinping's concerned, he has withstood the trade war that Donald Trump started right after taking office this time, raising tariffs enormously.

[00:09:21]And how did Xi Jinping affect that? By fighting back. And he compared what he did to the way China, as he said, won the war in Korea in the 1950s, 1952, which is not very historical, but it has a rhetorical effect at least inside China.

[00:09:40]Uh so even looking at the trade side, and you mentioned the trade problem, it seems that um uh to begin with, uh Donald Trump is going into this meeting as the weaker of the two. Let me ask you this if I may then. As a former ambassador to China, how do you think the Chinese leadership regards President Trump? What will they be thinking?

[00:10:03]Well, they have observed him well ever since he took office, obviously, and tried to compare uh the present Donald Trump to the one they knew from before. And now I think the major point uh they must uh focus on is the unpredictability of the present Donald Trump. And that makes it difficult to deal with. At the same time, of course, he still is, as I said before, of good reason, the weaker of the two. So how to deal with an unpredictable partner uh whom you need for economic reasons. Again, you mentioned the trade problem. Uh who at the same time can become uh threatening in ways which are unforeseeable.

[00:10:46]So it makes him a difficult partner, a weak partner, yet uh not really fathomable partner. Yes, you mentioned economics there. I mean, what comes out of this meeting could have so many ramifications worldwide, politically and economically.

[00:11:04]Yes, no doubt. And uh that's why I think um several dozens of of uh American CEOs are accompanying Donald Trump, and they are going to meet their Chinese partners, just hoping uh by uh contacting, by networking as much as possible, to find ways out of the present predicament that uh for different reasons, but in the end both are in economically, both the United States with inflation and uh other problems and uh China with its own domestic economic problems. Domestic market is very weak.

[00:11:40]And they would do well to have a good economic relationship as they used to have uh until about a year after uh President Trump took power uh this time. It will be difficult to reach, but I think the fact that so many businessmen are coming along with Donald Trump shows that the will is strong on both sides uh to make an effort to get along better economically.

[00:12:07]Ambassador Stanzel, thank you very much indeed for your insights.

[00:12:11]You're welcome.

[00:12:16]Well, everyone knew the United States was at war with Iran. Everyone knew Israel was at war with Iran. But there was a third country flying jets into Iranian airspace, hitting Iranian targets, and telling no one. Well, this week, the secret is out. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the United Arab Emirates carried out military strikes on Iran, positioning the Gulf monarchy as an active participant in a war in which it had publicly claimed no involvement. Abu Dhabi said nothing. Washington said nothing. And for weeks, nobody knew.

[00:12:46]Among the reported operations was a strike on a refinery located on Iran's Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf. Now, reportedly, the attack occurred in early April, around the time President Trump announced a ceasefire following a five-week air campaign. The strike triggered a massive fire and disrupted much of the refinery's production capacity for several months.

[00:13:08]Iran acknowledged at the time that the site had been attacked by an unspecified enemy, then responded by firing missiles and drones at the UAE and Kuwait.

[00:13:19]Missile and drone attacks on the Emirates and Kuwait have taken place a few hours after the targeting of Lavan Island oil facilities in Iran.

[00:13:29]Well, the first clue of something unusual came in mid-March. Footage surfaced showing a fighter jet over Iran. Analysts said it did not appear to belong to either Israel or the United States. Researchers later pointed to images allegedly showing French Mirage fighter jets and Chinese Wing Loong drones. Now, the UAE reportedly used Western-made fighter jets, believed to be Mirage aircraft, but has not publicly acknowledged the operation. For years, the UAE has walked a careful line with Iran. Trade ties, diplomatic back channels, quiet coexistence, but the war changed everything. Since the start of the Iran war, UAE air defenses have intercepted and destroyed 537 ballistic missiles, more than 2,000 drone attacks, and 26 cruise missiles fired from Iran.

[00:14:16]The conflict severely impacted the UAE's aviation, tourism, and real estate sectors, the very foundations of Abu Dhabi's economic model.

[00:14:25]Gulf officials said the war fundamentally altered Abu Dhabi's thinking, especially for the future.

[00:14:31]And now, May God protect the Emirates, protect its people, and protect everyone in it with honor and safety. And I promise everyone, we will emerge stronger.

[00:14:43]Iran had spent weeks turning Dubai's skies into a war zone, and so the UAE had had enough. According to one source cited in the Wall Street Journal report, the United States did not object to the strike because the ceasefire had not yet fully taken hold. So, Washington tacitly welcomed participation from the UAE.

[00:15:01]Other Gulf countries had refused to actively join in the conflict. Saudi Arabia said no. Qatar said no. Kuwait said no.

[00:15:09]UAE even criticized Gulf allies.

[00:15:13]Gulf Cooperation Council countries supported each other logistically, but politically and militarily, I believe the position was historically the weakest. I would expect such a weak stance from the Arab League and would not find it surprising, but I don't expect it from the GCC and I am surprised by it.

[00:15:34]So, for weeks the world was told this was a three-party war, America and Israel versus Iran. While the US and Israel were the public face of the war, the UAE, according to reports, was also running its own covert campaign. Now, so it's coming up in the program, is the American dream turning into a nightmare?

[00:15:51]As more Americans appear to be seeking an exit.

[00:16:01]But first, a major corruption scandal has now reached the inner circle of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

[00:16:07]Ukraine's former presidential chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has been named as a suspect in a multi-million dollar money-laundering investigation.

[00:16:15]Investigators say Yermak is suspected of involvement in a money-laundering scheme linked to a luxury housing project near Kyiv and around 10.5 million dollars.

[00:16:25]Under Ukrainian law, authorities did not directly name Yermak in their official statement. Instead, they referred to the former head of the office of the President of Ukraine. The notice of suspicion is an important legal step in Ukraine. It does not mean Yermak has been formally charged yet. However, it could eventually lead to criminal prosecution. He has denied any wrongdoing. Speaking through his lawyer, he called the allegations baseless and politically motivated. But the scandal is part of a wider anti-corruption investigation known as Operation Midas.

[00:16:57]The probe first shocked Ukraine last November when officials accused government figures of embezzling nearly 100 million dollars from Ukraine's state-owned nuclear energy sector. The revelations triggered a political crisis in Kyiv. Several senior officials resigned, including Ukraine's energy minister and justice minister. In fact, Yermak also stepped down after investigators searched his apartment during the investigation, although he was not charged at the time.

[00:17:23]All these scandals, they are not the best for Ukraine or for anyone really.

[00:17:29]It's not just Yermak involved. I hope these are not just steps for the press, but that they will lead to a result considered in court and that he will receive what he, Yermak, deserves.

[00:17:41]In recent weeks, the investigation has returned to the spotlight. Ukrainian media published leaked audio recordings reportedly linked to operation Midas.

[00:17:50]Investigators say they collected nearly 1,000 hours of wiretapped conversations during the probe. The case is especially embarrassing for President Zelenskyy because some of his closest allies have been connected to the scandal. That includes former ministers, former business associates, and senior government figures.

[00:18:08]If our conducted by competent authorities, then there are reasons for them. If any illegal activities were uncovered, there will of course be legal consequences. That is why I trust our law enforcement agencies.

[00:18:21]Well, before his resignation, Yermak was widely seen as one of the most powerful people in Ukraine after Zelenskyy himself, even though he was not elected.

[00:18:29]He had major influence inside the government. He regularly appeared alongside the president during wartime meetings and international diplomacy. He also played a leading role in talks with the United States and Western allies.

[00:18:43]We have very good progress and we are moving forward to the just and lasting peace. I hope that we can achieve the good progress today. Thank you.

[00:18:54]Well, the timing of the scandal is difficult for Ukraine. Kyiv is still fighting Russia's invasion while depending heavily on its military and financial support from Western countries. Ukraine is also trying to join the European Union and the fighting with Russia continues despite recent attempts at ceasefire negotiations.

[00:19:10]President Zelenskyy has tried to distance himself from the investigation.

[00:19:14]His office says the legal process is still ongoing and that no final conclusions should be made yet. Analysts though say it's an extremely uncomfortable moment.

[00:19:24]This whole case is a ticking time bomb for President Zelensky which may explode not now but later. Today while Zelensky is the president of Ukraine, he cannot legally be under investigation. He has immunity but nevertheless, the reputational risks for him are increasing.

[00:19:43]The corruption probe is becoming one of the biggest political challenges of Zelensky's presidency. For many Ukrainians, the scandal is raising serious questions about power, transparency, and accountability even during wartime.

[00:19:59]Now for generations, the American dream came with a simple promise. Work hard, buy a home, raise a family, and life will eventually fall into place.

[00:20:08]But now amid rising costs, shrinking opportunities, school shooting fears, and economic anxiety, some Americans are looking for that dream somewhere else entirely. Our next report looks at why some are leaving the US behind in search of the peace they crave.

[00:20:26]For decades, the United States sold itself as the land of opportunity.

[00:20:31]A place where bigger was better, dreams were achievable, and success was supposedly just one hardworking hustle away.

[00:20:40]But now, a growing number of Americans appear to be quietly packing their bags and heading for the exit.

[00:20:47]According to a recent report by the Brookings Institution, more people left the United States than arrived last year.

[00:20:54]Marking the country's first negative net migration rate in nearly 90 years.

[00:21:00]The Washington-based nonprofit predicts the trend will continue into 2026 as frustration over the economy, shrinking job opportunities, rising anxiety, and America's brutally expensive housing market pushes more citizens to look elsewhere for stability.

[00:21:18]And increasingly, that elsewhere is not a tropical beach paradise or a glamorous European capital.

[00:21:25]It is Finland.

[00:21:27]The Nordic nation topped the 2026 World Happiness Report for the ninth consecutive year in March, while the United States slumped to 23rd place.

[00:21:37]Finland, a European Union member with a population of around 5.6 million people, has become an unlikely symbol of what some Americans feel they are missing back home, stability.

[00:21:49]The country offers universal health care, tuition-free public education through university level, unemployment protections, child benefits, and paid parental leave.

[00:22:01]For many Americans exhausted by rising costs and constant uncertainty, that sounds less like socialism and more like a spa treatment for the nervous system.

[00:22:13]There's all sorts of social disruption in the US, and our kids started school, which meant they had to do the whole, let's hide like somebody has a gun outside the door, and we were just like, this isn't how we want to raise our kids.

[00:22:29]Still, the Nordic dream comes with caveats.

[00:22:32]Finland's climate is not exactly designed for people emotionally dependent on sunlight.

[00:22:37]Located between 60 and 70 degrees latitude, the country experiences brutally short winter days with parts of northern Finland seeing weeks of near total darkness.

[00:22:49]And then, there's the social culture.

[00:22:51]Finland can feel lonely for outsiders used to American friendliness.

[00:22:57]If you're looking for people to say, howdy, neighbor, and make chitchat, you're going to be really disappointed.

[00:23:03]People generally don't say hi to strangers here.

[00:23:08]That is also the awkward little detail that Finland currently has the highest unemployment rate in Europe.

[00:23:14]Movers say job hunting has become especially difficult [music] for young people and foreigners without significant work experience.

[00:23:22]Still, Finland continues trying to attract international talent, [music] especially in deep tech sectors.

[00:23:30]Business Finland, through its work in Finland program, helps companies recruit foreign specialists, including Americans.

[00:23:37]The initiative advertises English language jobs and supports fast-track permits for specialists and startup founders.

[00:23:47]For generations, people moved to America searching for stability, opportunity, and a better future.

[00:23:53]Now, for some Americans, the dream destination appears to involve universal health care, quiet buses, functional bureaucracy, and neighbors who politely avoid conversation.

[00:24:07]That's it for the show today. We'll be back tomorrow. Thanks for watching.

[00:24:10]Bye-bye.