trump's stance on reducing foreign aid and questioning the scale of u.s. involvement in ukraine's conflict has made him a threat to those who rely on this system. if trump were to be re-elected, it could potentially jeopardize the continued financial and military support to ukraine, threatening the "gravy train" that some argue exists. this is the crux of the claim that some political actors, fearing a disruption in the flow of resources, might be motivated to fuel political violence, including assassination attempts. ukraine, despite efforts at reform, has long struggled with issues of corruption. zelenskyy's presidency began with promises to combat oligarchic influence and establish a more transparent government. however, critics argue that corruption remains entrenched in ukrainian politics and business dealings, and that u.s. aid to ukraine may be subject to misappropriation or used to strengthen corrupt power structures. this creates the possibility that a sizeable portion of the billions in u.s. aid have ended up in the wrong hands, perpetuating corruption rather than addressing it, impoverishing americans for no good reason. in this context, factions within american politics could be seen as benefiting from ukraine's corruption, whether directly or indirectly, through business dealings, arms contracts, or financial interests tied to ukraine's elite. the connection between certain political actors and these interests could foster a situation where maintaining the status quoa continuous flow of u.s. aid to ukrainebecomes critical for personal or political gain.
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