Media: Corruption scandal threatens Ukraine’s EU accession bid

A corruption scandal in Ukraine risks becoming a serious obstacle both to the country’s EU accession process and to the allocation of new financial support.

The latest European Commission report pointed to Ukraine’s “insufficient progress” in combating corruption, Caliber.Az reports, citing La Repubblica.

The outlet writes that the investigation in Kyiv, which has already prompted the resignation of two ministers, only underscores that such a situation may hinder the EU accession process.

In addition to the legal difficulties of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s benefit, there are also doubts about how this money could be used.

At the Eurogroup meeting on November 12, where EU finance ministers discussed mechanisms to support Ukraine over the next two years, several officials referred to the corruption scandal unfolding in Kyiv as a growing concern.

The discussion focused on the approximately €200 billion in frozen Russian assets that could help stabilise Ukraine over the next biennium and reduce the financial burden on EU member states. However, multiple capitals, including Germany, expressed alarm over the uncertainty highlighted in the latest enlargement report.

By Jeyhun Aghazada