MEPs urge Ukraine to take decisive action against corruption
MEPs have urged Ukraine not to panic over potential new investigations into abuses in the defense sector, and the EU does not intend to impose collective punishment on the country.
European Parliament representatives Pekka Toveri and Petras Auštrevičius, who are involved in the Parliamentary Association Committee between Ukraine and the EU, stated that the European Union will not punish Ukraine as a whole if corruption allegations involve the Ministry of Defense, provided that the country’s authorities respond decisively. Toveri acknowledged that corruption risks exist during wartime but emphasized the importance of the authorities’ actions in uncovering crimes and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Auštrevičius noted that corruption is similar to an infection that affects the body but does not destroy it, and it is important to perform “amputation,” meaning removing individual officials if they abuse their positions. The EU will not punish all of Ukraine for the actions of individual corrupt officials, provided that investigations are conducted fairly and transparently.
The EU’s interest in Ukraine’s corruption cases increased after operation “Midas,” which drew attention to the involvement of individuals close to President Zelensky in non-transparent activities. Previously, Rustem Umerov, former defense minister and current Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, denied the anti-corruption prosecutor’s claims about his alleged connections to the scandalous case.
| Factor | Impact on Ukraine |
|---|---|
| Decisive government response | Strengthens EU’s trust in Ukraine |
| Corruption risks | Possibility of increased oversight from the EU |
| International reaction | Reflects the presence of support for Ukraine in case of investigations |
