The scandal involving Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy organization, Energoatom, has sent not only Ukraine into a frenzy, but its European backers as well. Justice Minister German Galushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk have already resigned, and Energoatom’s supervisory council and vice president have been removed as well. Zelenskyy and his closest advisors are doing their best at damage control and to claim innocence, but not everyone is reassured.
Politico EU reports on a number of European responses. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Zelenskyy on Nov. 13, and reportedly said, “We expect Ukraine to press ahead with anti-corruption measures and reforms in its own country.” A spokesman for the European Commission said that the EU is closely watching the investigation, and that Ukraine must maintain the independence of its anti-corruption agencies.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, meanwhile, told Reuters that the corruption scandal was “extremely unfortunate” and said that Kiev should “take it very seriously.” Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen said on Nov. 13 that he has told Ukraine that “they have to fight corruption,” and that “it’s also part of the conditionality” of their financial packages. Lithuanian Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekunas was more blunt. Asked if the scandal has shaken her confidence in Ukraine, she replied: “Maybe, but what other options do we have? ... Despite the scandal, there are no other options.”
