Zelensky urged to investigate corruption in Ukraine over EU membership

Moscow (ANTARA) – European leaders are pressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate corruption scandals in his country, notably involving former head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, in order to secure membership of the European Union.

According to a Die Zeit report on Thursday (21 May), citing sources, after Yermak resigned in 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed corruption in Ukraine with Zelensky and explained that Ukraine stood at a crossroads because of the scandal.

Beyond Chancellor Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also held similar conversations with Zelensky.

Nevertheless, Ukrainian authorities had yet to meet the leaders’ demands, according to the report.

On 11 May, the Office of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor of Ukraine (SAPO) announced charges against Andriy Yermak. The following day, the High Anti-Corruption Court began considering pre-trial measures, with SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko saying prosecutors would seek detention of Yermak with bail of USD 3.1 million (around IDR 54.8 billion).

Last Friday (15 May), Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said the bail funds for Yermak had been fully collected under Zelensky’s pressure. However, the bail funds had not yet been transferred to the anti-corruption court’s account.

Source: Sputnik/RIA Novosti