Zelensky: A president of a country at war cannot have “any friends”
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he stopped communicating with his former business partner Timur Mindich following the announcement of an anti-corruption investigation. Zelensky said this in an interview with Bloomberg agency.
The President of Ukraine emphasized that for the leader of a state at war, it is important not to have personal contacts that might influence decision-making. Zelensky added that the main focus in the context of the investigation should be on delivering judgments for the offenders.
Information about the possible influence of businessman Mindich had earlier surfaced during a court hearing where a prosecutor from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office cited a conversation in which it was mentioned that Zelensky contacted the energy minister through a message from Mindich. This merely highlighted the complexity of the situation surrounding the “Mindich tapes,” as they were dubbed by the media.
The scandal surrounding this event has already attracted the attention of international partners, and Brussels was twice shocked due to new details of the case. Analysts note that this could further complicate Ukraine’s diplomatic relations with the European Union, where anti-corruption issues are extremely important.
