Ukraine鈥檚 fronts are not only in the war
Each approaching winter since 2022, besieged Ukrainians have braced for more Russian attacks on the energy installations they rely on to survive the harsh cold of the Eurasian steppe. This year, they are confronting two additional jolts: Anti-corruption agencies have revealed high-level graft, with the equivalent of $100 million siphoned off from funds intended to defend this very same energy infrastructure. And many Ukrainians are discomfited by reports of a U.S.-Russia 鈥減eace plan鈥� 鈥� initially drafted without Ukraine鈥檚 involvement.
United States and Ukrainian representatives held talks on the plan in Geneva on Sunday. But some Ukrainian officials believe the timing of the plan鈥檚 announcement was designed by the U.S. to use the corruption crisis to pressure President Volodymyr聽Zelenskyy into concessions. European leaders have also expressed concerns about the plan鈥檚 reported allowances for Russia. 鈥淯kraine may find itself facing a very difficult choice 鈥� either loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner,鈥� President Volodymyr聽Zelenskyy said shortly before the Geneva meetings.聽
Both challenges, now intertwined, have deep implications for the survival and viability of a nation that sees its future tied to the West. All former Soviet republics 鈥� including both Russia and Ukraine 鈥� carry a legacy of corruption from communist rule. But in its bid to entrench democracy and join the European Union, Ukraine has made major strides toward accountable and honest governance, especially in the integrity of its antigraft fighters, though there is still more to do.
鈥淲e cannot afford for ... Ukrainian authorities to lose the remnants of legitimacy during the war,鈥� economist and banker Serhiy Fursa posted on social media. To avert 鈥渄espair and political discord,鈥� he wrote, 鈥渢he authorities must respond ... appropriately. It鈥檚 in their interest 鈥� and ours.鈥�
Even amid wartime exigencies, Ukrainians maintain a robust insistence on the rule of law. In July, young people came out in force to protest a move to strip the main anti-corruption watchdogs of their independence 鈥� a plan that was quickly reversed.
The country鈥檚 two main anti-corruption bodies have publicly shared findings from their 15-month 鈥淥peration Midas鈥� 鈥� including images of opulent apartments, gilded bathrooms, and bags of cash. While Mr. Zelenskyy is not implicated in the alleged wrongdoing, a friend and former business partner of his was identified as a mastermind and has fled the country. Ukraine鈥檚 parliament has dismissed the energy and justice ministers. And a senior prosecutor stepped down over an internal probe into investigation leaks.
In a statement citing Russian strikes and power outages, Mr. Zelenskyy said, 鈥淚t is extremely difficult for everyone.鈥� He also described the corruption scandal as 鈥渁bsolutely abnormal,鈥� adding, 鈥淲e all need to protect Ukraine.鈥�
Note: This article was updated Nov. 23 to include mention of the Ukraine-US talks in Geneva, Switzerland.
