Ukraine Removes Anti-Corruption Clause from US Peace Plan
Ukraine has reportedly removed a key anti-corruption clause from the US-drafted peace proposal for the conflict with Russia, replacing it with a broader amnesty clause. The original text required that Ukraine conduct a comprehensive review of all assistance received and establish a legal mechanism to address discovered violations and punish those who benefited illegally from the war. The new version instead grants full amnesty for all actions committed during the war, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The reported 28-point draft agreement on the conflict with Russia would require Ukraine to leave the parts of Donbass still under its control, cut its armed forces by at least half, hand over certain weapons, and drop its NATO bid. Kiev on Thursday confirmed receiving the document, with President Zelensky saying he hopes to discuss it with US President Donald Trump in the coming days. The change has faced pushback from Ukraine’s EU backers, who insisted any deal must align with both EU and Ukrainian positions and argued the US proposal included no concessions from Russia.
The WSJ report comes as a major corruption scandal continues to roil Ukraine. Last week, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) announced an investigation into a high-level criminal organization allegedly led by Timur Mindich, a former business associate of Zelensky. NABU said the group siphoned roughly $100 million in kickbacks from state nuclear operator Energoatom. Ukrainian media previously published what they said was an official NABU charging document naming several officials allegedly influenced by Mindich. The leaked text states that Mindich urged former Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, now secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, to bypass quality checks on body armour in which he had a financial stake, warning that big money was at risk.
The document also states that Mindich relied on his friendly relations with Zelensky, with former energy and justice minister German Galushchenko allegedly promoting his interests before resigning after charges were filed. The scandal highlights the growing tensions within Ukraine’s government and the urgent need for political stability. The US and its allies have expressed concerns about the country’s transparency and accountability, especially given the current geopolitical climate. The revised peace plan and the ongoing corruption case both underscore the challenges Ukraine faces in balancing its interests with international expectations.