WASHINGTON DC – Ukraine’s recent actions have “forced the EU’s hand” in cutting crucial aid, according to a former top national security aide from the Biden administration, as Kyiv grapples with a deepening crisis over its anti–corruption reforms.
Speaking to Kyiv Post on Monday, Ambassador Michael Carpenter, who previously served as Senior Director for Europe at the National Security Council, and as Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe from 2021 to 2024, sharply criticized Kyiv’s recent move to pass legislation seen as undermining its anti-corruption agencies.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
“The EU’s aid to Ukraine has always been conditional on certain basic democratic governance standards and so Zelensky essentially forced the EU’s hand with his party’s disastrous bill,” Carpenter said.
He unequivocally called it “an unforced error by the Ukrainian government” and affirmed, “the EU was right to pause the aid, which can be reinstated as soon as the independence and integrity of the anti–corruption institutions is restored.” Carpenter expressed hope for a swift resolution, stating, “Hopefully that will happen very soon.”
His comments resonate with other transatlantic advocates. Scott Cullinane, co-founder of the US–Europe Alliance, supported the EU’s decision, viewing it as a necessary step that can be reversed.
EU Moves to Ban Entry for Russian Troops
“I think it is a good sign that the EU can manage to help Ukraine fight the war and have a clear eyed understanding of the reform agenda, which is being led by Ukrainian civil society, at the same time,” Cullinane told the Kyiv Post’s Washington correspondent.
Cullinane emphasized that Ukraine is fighting two concurrent wars: “The first for full sovereignty from Moscow and the second for reform against corrupt interests. The war with Russia has obviously been at the front of everyone’s attention, but the second war for domestic reform never stopped. It is essential that Ukraine win both of those wars.”
The EU on Friday moved to suspend $1.7 billion (€1.5 billion) from a larger €4.5 billion fund intended for good governance initiatives. This aid, distinct from military assistance, is contingent on Ukraine meeting specific benchmarks related to democratic standards.
The controversy stems from a bill, recently signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, which critics contend significantly curtails the independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption bodies: the National Anti–Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
The legislation reportedly grants expanded authority to the politically appointed Prosecutor General, raising fears of undue political interference in sensitive investigations. The bill’s passage has not only drawn international condemnation but also ignited the first significant anti–government protests in Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
The EU’s robust response underscores its increasing willingness to exert pressure on Ukraine’s domestic policies, even as the nation remains engaged in a brutal conflict.
While President Zelensky has not publicly addressed the aid suspension, his office has since announced the submission of a new bill to parliament, slated for review on July 31. This proposed legislation aims to restore the independence of the anti–corruption bodies, a move seemingly intended to quell domestic unrest and assuage international concerns.
The ongoing saga highlights that genuine anti–corruption reforms are not just a domestic demand but a crucial prerequisite for Ukraine’s aspirations for EU membership and its continued access to vital international financial assistance.
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
