A detective story among high-ranking Ukrainian officials: Will Zelenskyy abandon a close associate because of corruption?

I owe you an original story. And here it is — a story that is part detective thriller, part political mystery, and it is still unfolding in Ukraine today. It helps explain why the Biden administration, in 2021, chose not to extend sanctions against Nord Stream 2 — and why the U.S. is no longer willing to cooperate with Ukraine in the same way as before. You may disagree with this version of events, or insist that America’s support for Ukraine remains unwavering — but this is the reality on the ground.