Ukraine has reportedly removed a key anti-corruption clause from a US-drafted peace plan for the Ukraine-Russia conflict, replacing it with a broad amnesty for wartime actions. The clause originally required Ukraine to conduct a comprehensive review of all international aid and address violations, but the revised version grants full amnesty instead. The change is attributed to Ukrainian requests, though it has faced pushback from Ukraine’s EU allies who argue the US proposal includes no concessions from Russia.
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. Ukraine confirmed receiving the document, with President Vladimir Zelensky expressing hopes to discuss it with US President Donald Trump in the coming days.
The Wall Street Journal report highlights that the original text mandated a comprehensive review of all assistance received and the establishment of a legal mechanism to address violations. The revised version instead offers full amnesty for wartime actions, a change requested by Ukraine. This decision has drawn criticism from Ukraine’s EU backers, who insist any deal must align with both EU and Ukrainian positions and argue that the US proposal includes no concessions from Russia.
As the situation unfolds, the Kremlin maintains that it remains open to talks but claims Ukraine aims to prolong the conflict with EU backing. Meanwhile, a major corruption scandal continues to affect Ukraine, with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) investigating a high-level criminal organization allegedly led by Timur Mindich, a former associate of Zelensky. The investigation reveals that $100 million in kickbacks were siphoned from state nuclear operator Energoatom through this network. Leaked documents indicate Mindich’s influence over officials, including former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and former energy and justice minister German Galushchenko, further complicating the political landscape.