Four cases involving Paul J. Manafort, center, have been effectively frozen by Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. Ukrainian officials are wary of offending President Trump. Credit Al Drago for The New York Times
New York Times: Ukraine, Seeking U.S. Missiles, Halted Cooperation With Mueller Investigation
KIEV, Ukraine — In the United States, Paul J. Manafort is facing prosecution on charges of money laundering and financial fraud stemming from his decade of work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine.
But in Ukraine, where officials are wary of offending President Trump, four meandering cases that involve Mr. Manafort, Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, have been effectively frozen by Ukraine’s chief prosecutor.
The cases are just too sensitive for a government deeply reliant on United States financial and military aid, and keenly aware of Mr. Trump’s distaste for the investigation by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, into possible collusion between Russia and his campaign, some lawmakers say.
The decision to halt the investigations by an anticorruption prosecutor was handed down at a delicate moment for Ukraine, as the Trump administration was finalizing plans to sell the country sophisticated anti-tank missiles, called Javelins.
The State Department issued an export license for the missiles on Dec. 22, and on March 2 the Pentagon announced final approval for the sale of 210 Javelins and 35 launching units. The order to halt investigations into Mr. Manafort came in early April.
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WNU editor: The New York Times provides no evidence that the reason why the Ukraine government decided to not cooperate with the Mueller Investigation was because of a pending missile deal. Just a lot of speculation from Ukraine officials and the New York Time's spin on it. On a side note .... the Pentagon and State Department have approved a sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, and their investigation on Paul Manafort is still open.
More News OnReports That Ukraine Stopping All Cooperation With The Mueller Investigation Because They Wanted Missiles From The Trump Administration?
Ukraine froze Manafort probes amid US weapons sales: report -- The Hill
Did Trump Bribe Ukraine to Stop Cooperating With Mueller? -- Jonathan Chait, NYMag
Ukraine cut off cooperation with Mueller to curry favor with Trump -- VOX
Ukrainians Stop Investigating Manafort After Trump Sells Them Missiles. A Win-Win for All Involved. -- Slate
Ukraine’s Successful Courtship of Trump -- Natasha Bertrand, The Atlantic
