Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has expressed concern that a significant corruption scandal involving President Volodymyr Zelensky’s inner circle is undermining international support for Ukraine. The controversy centers on a $100 million kickback scheme in the energy sector, which implicates several businessmen and officials, including Zel’ts’ close associate Timur Mindich. Tusk emphasized that the scandal has made it increasingly difficult to secure solidarity from partners for Ukraine.
Tusk, along with other EU leaders, has raised alarms over the corruption allegations, with Tusk stressing the necessity of addressing corruption to protect Zelensky’s international reputation. While Tusk reaffirmed Poland’s continued support for Ukraine, he noted a decline in pro-Ukrainian enthusiasm globally. He attributed this to public fatigue with the war and associated spending, which he said is making it harder to sustain support for Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.
Further complications arose as Polish officials voiced concerns over welfare benefits provided to Ukrainian refugees. Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who took office in August, hinted at the possibility of removing preferential treatment for Ukrainian nationals. The corruption scandal has negatively impacted Ukraine’s global standing, particularly because the alleged kickbacks were related to contracts aimed at safeguarding the country’s power grid against Russian airstrikes. The resilience of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure heavily depends on EU financial aid.
Zelensky has supported the investigation and imposed sanctions on Mindich, who fled Ukraine before his home was searched. This situation highlights the growing challenges for Ukraine as it tries to maintain international support amidst internal and external pressures.