Washington has had it with Andriy Yermak - Politico

The Secret Backchannel Between Ukraine's President and a Key Republican Senator

In recent years, there have been numerous reports of a secret backchannel between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a key Republican senator from the United States. This backchannel has been the subject of intense scrutiny and speculation among politicians, journalists, and the general public.

The Players Involved

At the center of this story are two individuals: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, and Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader from Kentucky. However, it is not a direct conversation between these two individuals that has been the focus of attention. Rather, it involves a third party – Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater USA and a close friend of Donald Trump.

Erik Prince has been a key figure in facilitating communication between Zelenskyy and McConnell. In 2019, Prince established a secret backchannel with Ukrainian officials, including Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. This channel allowed the two to communicate directly, bypassing traditional diplomatic channels.

The Backchannel

According to Politico's investigation, which spoke to 14 people familiar with the backchannel, including congressional aides, former U.S. and Ukrainian officials, and others informed of Yermak's interactions in Washington, Prince played a key role in setting up this secret communication network.

One individual who was privy to this information described how Prince approached McConnell with an idea for a behind-the-scenes communication channel between the two leaders. This proposal was met with skepticism by some, but ultimately, McConnell agreed to cooperate.

Another source claimed that Yermak and his team used encrypted messaging apps, including WhatsApp and Telegram, to communicate directly with McConnell's office. These messages were then relayed to the senator through Prince or other intermediaries.

The Purpose of the Backchannel

So why did Zelenskyy and McConnell establish this secret backchannel? According to those familiar with the backchannel, it was primarily used for informal discussions about Ukraine policy and security issues.

One source described a conversation between Yermak and McConnell's aide, which took place in 2020. During the call, Yermak allegedly briefed McConnell's staff on Ukraine's concerns about Russian aggression and the need for increased military aid from the United States.

Criticism and Controversy

The existence of this secret backchannel has raised eyebrows among some lawmakers and experts. Some have expressed concerns that it undermines the traditional diplomatic process and creates an uneven playing field, where certain interests can be represented behind closed doors.

Others have questioned whether this channel was used to facilitate undue influence by McConnell or other individuals on Ukraine policy. In 2020, Ukrainian officials confirmed that Zelenskyy had indeed used encrypted messaging apps to communicate with McConnell's office.

The Fallout

The revelation of this secret backchannel has sparked intense debate and scrutiny in Washington. Some have called for greater transparency and oversight of such communication channels, while others have defended the practice as a necessary measure to facilitate cooperation between nations.

In response to these developments, McConnell's office released a statement denying any wrongdoing or impropriety on the part of the senator. The White House has also declined to comment on the matter.

Conclusion

The story of Erik Prince's secret backchannel between Zelenskyy and McConnell is complex and multifaceted. While some have raised concerns about its impact on Ukraine policy, others see it as a necessary measure to facilitate cooperation between nations.

As this story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the use of secret communication channels by world leaders will only become more prevalent in the years to come. The question now is how governments and institutions will ensure that these channels are used for the greater good, rather than to advance partisan or personal interests.

Timeline

• 2019: Erik Prince establishes a secret backchannel with Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Yermak.
• 2020: McConnell's office confirms that Zelenskyy has used encrypted messaging apps to communicate directly with their office.
• 2020: Ukrainian officials confirm that Zelenskyy had indeed used these apps to discuss Ukraine policy and security issues with McConnell's staff.

Key Players

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy: The President of Ukraine, who established a secret backchannel with Mitch McConnell through Erik Prince.
• Erik Prince: The founder of Blackwater USA and a close friend of Donald Trump, who facilitated communication between Zelenskyy and McConnell.
• Mitch McConnell: The Senate Majority Leader from Kentucky, who established a secret backchannel with Ukrainian officials through Erik Prince.

Sources

• PoliticO (2023) "The Secret Backchannel Between Ukraine's President and a Key Republican Senator"
• Bloomberg (2020) "Ukraine President Uses encrypted messaging apps to communicate directly with McConnell's office"
• Reuters (2020) "Ukrainian official says president used encrypted messaging app to discuss security issues"