We’ve just adopted Ukraine, haven’t we? We are sending military aid and financial help to stop Putin’s invasion (rightly so) and now it looks like the United States is going to rebuild Ukraine when the war is over.

The question is what aren’t we paying for in Ukraine? American taxpayers are paying Ukrainian pensions and government employee salaries, for heaven’s sake. It is particularly frustrating because there is no accounting coming forward on how American financial assistance is being distributed. Are the people who really need help receiving it? Or, like most corrupt governments, are only the top of the food chain in Ukraine getting the money? More than $112B has been appropriated by Congress for Ukraine. That’s a lot of temptation for less-than-honest actors.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made a surprise visit to Ukraine to introduce President Zelensky to Robert Mariner, the new transportation adviser to Ukraine.

President Zelensky: "A productive meeting with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. We discussed the restoration of our country's infrastructure, the development of transportation opportunities for exporting our goods to international markets, as well as the prospects… pic.twitter.com/noOkd4Phcb

— Dénes Törteli 🇪🇺🇭🇺🇺🇦 (@DenesTorteli) November 8, 2023

Mariner has done engineering work for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. He has decades of transportation project experience. Apparently, we are going to rebuild Ukraine and in it for the long haul. He was an advisor to the Transportation Counselor to the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan.

“This adviser will be in Kyiv to provide technical assistance on project delivery as part of the country’s rebuilding efforts,” Buttigieg said. “It’s one of the countless ways the U.S. continues to stand with the people of Ukraine for the long haul and ensure its connection to the world.”

Buttigieg was joined by the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink for the trip to announce the appointment of Mariner who will provide technical assistance and share best practices on infrastructure project delivery.

Talk about a money pit. Ambassador Brink is thrilled.

“Our message today is clear: the United States supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” Brink said on X, in her announcement of Buttigieg arriving in Kyiv.

Happy to welcome @SecretaryPete to Ukraine. Our message today is clear: the United States supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. pic.twitter.com/zVNXiKpt7b

— Ambassador Bridget A. Brink (@USAmbKyiv) November 8, 2023

Never fear. Mayor Pete, who couldn’t even keep the potholes filled in South Bend, Indiana, is leading the team to return Ukraine to economic self-sufficiency. That will happen through “supporting investments in transportation infrastructure and reforms that will support a return to private-sector-led growth.”

“From the time Russia launched its full-scale invasion, I’ve kept close contact with my Ukrainian counterpart about impacts to global supply chains, particularly port and rail infrastructure,” Buttigieg said on X. “Today, I’m in Kyiv to deliver on a top ask to place an infrastructure advisor here.”

Buttigieg and Brink visited the Come Back Alive Foundation, an NGO that supports the Ukrainian Armed Forces and he spoke to veterans.

“While we salute those fighting on the frontlines, we also recognize the important role veterans’ organizations are playing in Ukraine’s recovery,” Brink said.

They then met with Buttigieg’s Ukrainian counterpart, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.

Kubrakov thanked Buttigieg and Brink “for an incredibly pleasant and productive meeting.”

I’m not sure that this was a necessary trip for Mayor Pete. But, it will be a part of his resume when he runs for president again.