EU warns Ukraine: Must eradicate corruption for EU bid
The European Union’s Justice Commissioner has issued a stark warning that Kyiv must clean up its politics amid a reported $100 million corruption probe targeting the inner circle of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Politico.
High-ranking officials in Brussels cautioned that Ukraine must prosecute corrupt figures in politics and business if it is to secure EU membership, placing increased pressure on President Zelensky over the growing corruption allegations.
In an interview with Politico, European Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath stated that European governments would not support a candidate country like Ukraine joining the 27-member bloc unless it could demonstrate an effective system for eradicating high-level crime and corruption.
While acknowledging that Ukraine’s reform process is "a journey," McGrath said he believes Kyiv is making "every effort" to combat corruption, adding that he is in constant contact with the authorities regarding the developments.
He was responding to questions about an alleged conspiracy to siphon off approximately $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector, as the investigation expands to include important figures close to Zelensky and within his government.
"Every candidate country must have a robust system for dealing with high-level corruption cases. There must be a robust system of investigation and, ultimately, prosecution and conviction, and demonstrating effectiveness in that area is something we require of all our member states and certainly those seeking to join the European Union," Michael McGrath said.
Following McGrath’s statements, anti-corruption investigators conducted a raid on the offices of Zelensky’s most powerful advisor, Andriy Yermak, as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The investigation comes at an extremely sensitive time for Ukraine, with President Donald Trump pressuring Zelensky to accept a peace deal that could require him to cede territory to Russia.
Ukraine is currently in the process of joining the EU, though opposition from Hungary has recently blocked progress. McGrath reiterated that "the same standards apply to all candidate countries," adding that "rule of law and justice reforms are essential in the accession process."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
