Hundreds of thousands of people have killed and about 17.6 million people are still in severe need of humanitarian aid. Almost a year after the Russia-Ukraine war began.
The Ukrainian government has been unwavering in its struggle against Russia. But Kyiv has also been battling a domestic foe that has been festering for years: corruption.
The authorities raided home of former interior minister of Ukraine in recent weeks, and numerous high-ranking government officials were fired on bribery charges. Ministry of Defence purchased food for soldiers at significantly inflated prices this information was discovered by journalists and activists. Oleksii Reznikov, the nation’s defence minister, is also expected to be replaced.
Although the US, EU, and NATO have promised to keep helping Ukraine. Whereas some Western politicians and military leaders have criticised the country’s corruption. And questioned if Ukraine is a good steward of the aid it has received.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, addressed corruption in a speech in January.
Zelenskyy is acutely aware of both the criticism from the West and the significance of maintaining aid flow. There will not be a return to the way things were in the past, he emphasised.
Zelenskyy recognised the urgency of addressing this matter without further delay and the fact. That some Americans and Westerners consider Ukraine to be excessively corrupt, according to Dubovyk.
He continued, “Ukraine’s largest worry is that the US and West would desert them and that the flow of weaponry will cease.”
In December 2022, Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of former US President Donald Trump, tweeted: “Zelenskyy is basically an ungrateful international welfare queen.”
It is evident that Zelenskyy’s administration has closely followed US politics.
According to Dubovyk, there is concern that if the Trump wing of the Republican Party gains control, it may withdraw support from Ukraine. Professor of political science at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, Jordan Gans-Morse, agreed.
The politics and cultures of donor nations are well-known to the Ukrainians. Gans-Morse stated that a change in American politics can be threatened by the support they are receiving.
The EU, which consists of 27 members, has vowed to defend Ukraine and its population without wavering. They committed over 67 billion euros ($72 billion) since the crisis started.
The EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee chair, a Polish politician named Witold Waszczykowski. He told that right now, “other problems have a secondary meaning and the most essential thing for Ukraine is to win the conflict with Russia.”
“It is our duty and responsibility as citizens of Europe to aid Ukraine in winning the conflict. Helping Ukraine endure the winter without electricity, heat, or water is as crucial, he said.
The EU officially gave Ukraine the designation of “candidate country” in June 2022. Opening the door for Kyiv to join the EU. However, in order to meet EU requirements, applicant nations must implement a number of political, economic. And rule-of-law reforms before becoming members.
“West provides financial support as the EU negotiations advance. Ukraine must demonstrate that corruption will not be allowed,.
Additionally, although Ukraine’s anti-corruption campaign has attracted attention from around the world. For citizens of and travelling to the nation, the recent dismissal of dishonest officials. Demonstrated the development of an anti-corruption movement that has been years in the making.
Transparency International’s most recent measure of corruption perception, Ukraine was placed 116th out of 180 nations in 2022. According to the research, during the past eight years Ukraine has made considerable strides in combating corruption. Then, in 2022, the war broke out, and we decided to hold off on our push until things got better.
The administration also became aware of how Russia was utilising corruption in Ukraine. To portray it to the West as a failing state at this time. Consequently, the political resolve to combat corruption grew.
Andriukaitis emphasised how after Ukraine’s recent anti-corruption efforts. Pro-Kremlin social media users, bots, and trolls started the fight online by releasing footage of the arrest of dishonest Ukrainian officials to malign Ukraine.
The goal, according to Andriukaitis, is to “sow disbelief in Western communities about their backing of Ukraine. And to attempt to shatter Western governments’ unshakeable support through a bottom-up strategy.”
Vladimir Putin, according to Dubovyk, is afraid of the anti-corruption drive in Ukraine. And sees it as a potential threat to his authority at home.
