Politico: Brussels warns Ukraine to step up corruption prosecutions

A senior European Union official has warned that Ukraine must demonstrate credible prosecutions of high-level corruption if it hopes to advance its bid for EU membership, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces intensifying scrutiny over graft allegations.

In an interview with POLITICO, European Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath said EU governments will not endorse a candidate country that cannot prove it has “an effective system for rooting out crime at the top of society.”

While acknowledging that Ukraine’s reform process is “a journey,” McGrath noted that he believes Kyiv is making “best efforts” to tackle entrenched corruption and said he remains in regular contact with Ukrainian authorities.

His remarks followed reports of an alleged scheme to siphon roughly $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector, an investigation that has broadened to include senior figures close to Zelenskyy and within his administration.

“There has to be, in every candidate country, a robust system for dealing with alleged high-level corruption cases,” McGrath said. “You need to have a robust system for investigation and ultimately prosecutions and convictions, and demonstrating a track record of effectiveness in that area is something that we require of all of our own member states, and certainly of those that wish to join the European Union.”

Shortly after McGrath’s comments, Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency conducted raids at the premises of Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s most influential adviser, as part of the expanding probe.

The investigation comes at a politically delicate moment for Kyiv, with US President Donald Trump pressuring Zelenskyy to accept a peace arrangement that could entail ceding territory to Russia. Ukraine is currently seeking to advance its EU membership application, though opposition from Hungary continues to slow progress.

McGrath stressed that “the same standard applies to all candidate countries,” emphasising that “rule of law and justice reforms are at the heart of the accession process.” He added: “We have a very open and honest relationship with Ukrainian authorities about what those requirements are. If they’re not, then you will not get support from the member states of the European Union to progress on the accession path.”

Asked whether Kyiv is doing enough, he replied:

“I think they are making best efforts to achieve the required standard. It is a journey, and we monitor developments closely, and we remain in an ongoing contact with Ukrainian authorities about issues that come to our attention or that are reported publicly.”

By Sabina Mammadli