There were far easier ways to get far, far richer, far far more quickly, than wheeler-dealing for chump change in Ukraine, one of the poorest countries near Europe.
Unless the big money was Russian, it makes no sense.
Tony Blair’s son became a dollar bilionaire by trading property and investing in a tech business. Legally.
Westerners can clearly get far far richer, far quicker, with less risk, by running a legit business, starting a hedge fund and providing venture capital to unicorn tech businesses. Which is how Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage both got rich.
That’s the essence of this joke in Austin Powers.
Part of money laundering is to appear like you are not doing it. Biden was happy getting tens of millions through Barisma.