Inside the Meeting That Foreshadowed Spartz's Split With Zelensky's Ukraine

U.S. Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, once a champion of aid to Ukraine, helped unleash a behind-the-scenes tussle between Washington and Kyiv when she accused Volodymyr Zelensky's government of failing to prepare for war and lacking oversight of donated weapons.

A fractious meeting in Warsaw, Poland, on March 8—details of which have not previously been reported—foreshadowed Spartz's break with Zelensky's government and its supporters in D.C., several of those present told Newsweek.

Ukrainian government sources say the embassy meeting raised concerns Spartz was lobbying for a U.S. military contractor which Kyiv did not wish to buy from. Spartz says the meeting raised concerns about Ukrainian professionalism and corruption.

The congresswoman attended the meeting with a Nevada-based military contracting company, William R. Brown of Battle Born Munitions, Inc (BBM), to help facilitate the donation of 1 million rounds of ammunition—received by Ukraine in late March—on behalf of the California-based Ammo Inc..

Ukrainian sources claim the 43-year-old businesswoman wanted Kyiv's representatives to purchase additional supplies, and speculated that she stood to gain from them doing so. Spartz denies these claims.

"She was careful," said a Ukrainian government representative who took part in the meeting, speaking with Newsweek on the condition of anonymity as they had not been authorized to publicly discuss the events.

"She just said it's a serious company and they have things that Ukraine needs, and she hoped the Ukrainians would pass their proposals to the right people...she was lobbying."

Newsweek obtained two follow-up emails sent by Brown to officials at the Warsaw embassy.

The emails included a BBM brochure of military equipment—including heavy machine guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers—available for purchase. These items were "discussed yesterday with our meeting and engagement with Congresswoman Spartz," Brown's email read.

Ukraine was eager to buy weapons at the time. Newsweek obtained an inquiry from a Ukrainian state-owned arms company, Ukrspecexport, to BBM about the potential supply of MLRS rockets.

But a source close to Zelensky—who also requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter—told Newsweek BBM had asked for an exclusive contract to supply Ukraine with ammunition. Kyiv, they said, had concerns over the firm's supply chain.

"We were told BBM could be a central point supplier to Ukraine during the war," the source said.

"We were very surprised that a member of Congress was actively pushing for private commercial interests especially during a time of war," the source added. " We can only speculate on her motivations but no other member of Congress has ever done this in our experience."

One Ukrainian diplomat who took part in the meeting told Newsweek that Spartz "was lobbying for a company in the U.S. that can send weapons to Ukraine...She said she had someone who can do this, and that we should use them."

Spartz, the diplomat said, was "avoiding concrete answers." The congresswoman "really wanted to support Ukraine, but she had her own agenda," they added, speaking on the condition of anonymity as they had also not been authorized to speak with the media.

Spartz's office told Newsweek the congresswoman took part in the meeting after talks with Ammo Inc. board member Richard Childress, who was trying to donate ammunition to Ukraine.

"Ammo Inc. involved BBM in the logistics of this donation and encountered significant issues. The Congresswoman advised BBM to report their findings to the proper U.S. authorities," Spartz's office said in an emailed statement.

Ammo Inc. sales vice president Anthony Tate told Newsweek the company has not been in contact with Spartz or the Ukrainian government since its ammunition donation, and has not raised any concerns about Ukrainian conduct.

Spartz's office said she did not violate any House rules or receive compensation "of any kind" for her work, but "simply tried to assist with streamlining bureaucracy to help Ukraine quicker."

The congresswoman's office dismissed the Ukrainian allegations as "misinformation" and an attempt to "smear" her. "Hopefully the media will spend more time asking tough questions and investigating real corruption in the Ukrainian government instead of trying to undermine Congresswoman Spartz," she added.

BBM CEO Fred Hees told Newsweek that the firm had no prior relationship with Spartz and has not dealt with her since. "I am told she was very upset with the Ukraine officials since they did not answer her questions as it relates to the U.S. aid that was nowhere to be seen," Hees said. "The meeting turned into a heated argument."

Spartz has been unflinching in her public criticism of the Kyiv government, despite fierce backlash in Ukraine and Washington, D.C. Much is focused on Andriy Yermak, one of Zelensky's top aides. Spartz has been careful not to attack Zelensky directly, while calling on him to fire his right-hand man.

In July, the congresswoman released a statement accusing Yermak—who is the head of Zelensky's presidential office—of failures including mismanaging pre-invasion talks with Russia; sabotaging the defense of now-occupied Kherson region; and delaying military procurement while "demanding unreasonable or even illegal terms."

The congresswoman has also more broadly criticized Ukraine for lack of preparedness. "You are not preparing for war," Spartz said in an interview with Ukraine's European Pravda media outlet. "You even act like you don't have a war. You do not understand that you have the biggest war after the Second World War."

The Ukrainian diplomat who spoke about the Warsaw meeting, acknowledged a tense atmosphere. "It was the beginning of the war, everyone was nervous...I was a little bit aggressive in asking for more support," they said.

Spartz also had an "aggressive tone," the Ukrainian government representative at the meeting said, and accused Kyiv officials of corruption. The congresswoman also made plain her opinion that Ukrainian officials could not be trusted to oversee foreign weapons being sent to the battlefields, the source said.

The source said they were "surprised" that Spartz would be so combative while Ukrainians were fighting against Russia's invasion. "It wasn't polite or constructive," they added.

Other documents and texts reviewed by Newsweek indicate that Spartz offered to set up additional meetings between Ukrainian officials and American contractors in a bid to bolster Ukraine's special operations and other capabilities.

The apparent failure of Spartz's efforts frustrated the congresswoman, Ukrainian officials say. One source—who has been in recent contact with Spartz but requested anonymity as they had not been authorized to detail those conversations publicly—said she was "very angry" over the refusal of top officials in the Ministry of Defense and president's office to meet with her.

Newsweek was also shown text messages in which Spartz complained about criticism from Zelensky government officials and advisers in the Ukrainian and international media.

Spartz's public complaints have made her few friends within the GOP, sources told Newsweek. "She's in way over her head," one congressional staffer—who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly—told Newsweek. "It sounds like no one will talk to her anymore, not just Republicans but Ukrainians too."

Another senior congressional official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to do so publicly, said: "She was almost like the darling of the cause. And now she's to the point where people won't even sit next to her, Republicans or Democrats...She's made herself radioactive."

Spartz has vowed to continue her advocacy for greater cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine, regardless of her concerns about Zelensky's inner circle.

"This issue should not be construed as political," her office said. "She is committed to defeating Putin and restoring Ukraine's borders while demanding accountable government in Kyiv."

Spartz's falling out with Kyiv and GOP officials could make that job harder.