You could just as easily argue that Kolomoskyi was/is paying protection money to Joe. The corruption certainly has the character of a protection racket. The subordinate gangsters and warlords of Ukraine provide a cut to the gangsters who front NATO. At the moment Kolomoskyi has legal troubles in the US, most likely a reminder from Washington to Zelenskyi who the ultimate boss is or at least a means to incentivise loyalty and prevent Kolomoskyi from switching sides.
He has never left the employ of Ilhor Kolomoskyi, who seed funded Azov, just as Joe and Hunter are on Kolomoskyi's payroll.
You could just as easily argue that Kolomoskyi was/is paying protection money to Joe. The corruption certainly has the character of a protection racket. The subordinate gangsters and warlords of Ukraine provide a cut to the gangsters who front NATO. At the moment Kolomoskyi has legal troubles in the US, most likely a reminder from Washington to Zelenskyi who the ultimate boss is or at least a means to incentivise loyalty and prevent Kolomoskyi from switching sides.