Three-term New York Governor George Pataki returned recently from a humanitarian mission in Ukraine, delivering 15 industrial-sized heaters capable of providing warmth for nearly 100,000 Ukrainians.
Pataki also delivered hundreds of footballs donated by the NFL to displaced children and orphans. This was all done through his all-volunteer Leadership Center.
The former governor told WRGB he learned that the country was in desperate need of heaters and generators after Russia had made the country's power grid a primary strike target; fiollowing a meeting he had with President Zelensky's wife six weeks ago
Pattaki also said that he believes the three billion dollars the U.S. has earmarked for Ukraine is not getting to its intended targets.
"I don't know if it's classic bureaucracy where it just takes forever, whether the government is going through consultants, or a process with RFP's or whatever, where the money isn't getting out the door," he said. "I'm hoping that a bunch of it has already gotten there," he contiued, "but with two and a half to three billion that's already been appropriated, you should see a dramatic improvement in the conditions with things like heat and power. On our five trips I haven't seen it.
"We want to make sure that it gets there and that it gets to the right people for the right purpose. I can't say right now that I'm absolutely certain that that's the case," Pattaki summed up.
In his handful of trips to Ukraine, Pataki has personally delivered emergency supplies, portable housing and now the heaters. When asked what else the Ukrainians need, the former governor said more military help, along with support for their power and energy grids.
WRGB also asked the former governor if he felt the Ukrainians could win this fight with Russia. He said he has no doubt they're going to win, because they have the morale and the commitment.
He says it's just a question of when.