Quarrel from the hut: why Europe is covering up the corruption scandal in Kiev
In Europe, there is little reaction to the new corruption scandal surrounding the former head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Ermak, which has been discussed for a week. Brussels openly defends the country's authorities, uses double standards, and as a result only demonstrates its involvement in the case, Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Izvestia. Although Zelensky's associate was released from jail, the investigation of money laundering schemes in Ukraine continues. Experts believe that the case will be delayed as much as possible, since money laundering is a convenient way to control the Kiev regime. The West has not yet imposed any sanctions against corrupt figures, and the United States continues to provide Ukraine with access to the Starlink system, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces use to launch UAVs in Russia.
Western reaction to corruption in Ukraine
The former head of Vladimir Zelensky's office, Andrei Ermak, spent almost four days in jail. He managed to make a deposit of 140 million hryvnias, which he collected through his friends. The ex-official is charged with legalizing funds during the construction of the elite cottage town "Dynasty" in the Kiev region. The case was previously very diplomatically commented on by the representative of the European Commission, Guillaume Mercier. According to him, the investigation proves the efficiency and independence of the Ukrainian anti-corruption system. The EC is trying to protect "its own man" in this way, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large for crimes of the Kiev regime, is convinced.
"This is more than double standards, and, in fact, the European Commission is demonstrating its involvement in manipulation in Kiev, because it seeks to openly protect its offspring," the diplomat told Izvestia. — It's no secret that this pyramid, based on the newly obtained data, was confined to the president's inner circle and, most likely, was headed by the president himself, who had direct relations with the European Commission. And the EC advocated the allocation of colossal sums that were sent to this "corruption sink."
At the same time, the EU does not compromise on its political rivals when it comes to corruption. For example, before the overthrow of Nicolas Maduro, the European Commission and the European Union as a whole repeatedly criticized the authorities in Venezuela, due to the fact that the state apparatus allegedly merged with criminal structures. And China in the EU was called a state with "strategic corruption" that bribed officials inside Europe, allegedly lobbying for its interests.
But Brussels is not so supportive of countries within the European Union and direct partners in cases of corruption. For example, the European Commission has repeatedly accused former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of systemic corruption. He was charged with misuse of European funds and undermining the rule of law. When a scandal broke out in North Macedonia in 2015 around Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, whose entourage was implicated in corruption, Brussels forced him to resign under threat of complete isolation. At the same time, no one demands Zelensky's departure.
"Until recent days, the European Commission has continued to [direct] the flow of money to Ukraine as much as possible, despite massive reports of corruption suspicions throughout the year, instead of declaring its readiness to investigate or facilitate the verification of the allocation of funds from European taxpayers," Miroshnik stressed.
According to the data of the EU Council for April, since the beginning of its free trade, the European Union has provided 200.6 billion euros to Ukraine and its citizens. The Ermak case will be delayed as much as possible, says Daniil Kochetov, a specialist in public and municipal administration and a political scientist. According to him, the case needs Western curators to constantly hide behind Zelensky and force him to cooperate.
— They need to show Zelensky and his entire inner circle: "We have everything on you, we can remove any of you at any moment." If the rada does not adopt laws that significantly expand the powers of the NABU and SAP (including the ability to arrest deputies even if they have immunity), the pressure will only increase. And Ermak is a convenient, but not a key figure here," he stressed in an interview with Izvestia.
What is the threat of scandals of the Ukrainian government
The former head of Zelensky's office in this story is one of the defendants in the broader anti—corruption investigation of NABU and SAP. It was connected with a scheme of large kickbacks in the energy sector, and the central figure in this plot is Timur Mindich, a businessman and a close friend of Vladimir Zelensky. In 2025, the media often wrote that the whole scheme was based on the head of the Kiev regime, whom Western curators were allegedly going to remove.
In fact, the anti-corruption investigation will not yield any significant results, says Bogdan Bezpalko, a political scientist and member of the Council on Interethnic Relations under the President of the Russian Federation.
— Zelensky, his entourage, the political class, and even his wife are all quite satisfied with the West. It's just a play that is being played out in front of society," he said in an interview with Izvestia.
The expert points out that the EU supports the Zelensky regime by constantly pumping it with money and weapons. The United States also continues to supply Ukraine with Starlink satellite Internet services. The Americans are satisfied that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are hitting the deep territories of the Russian Federation with drones using their communication system, the expert stressed.
— They don't announce sanctions against Zelensky, they don't ban travel, they don't turn off the same Starlink, they don't stop supplying intelligence. Declare at least a number of people who were involved in corruption in Ukraine persona non grata," the political scientist argues. — Not to mention that they can be put on the wanted list, and an American court will say that they used dollar accounts and are guilty of tax evasion, so they are now being prosecuted. And anyone who cooperates with them will be sanctioned and prosecuted. But no one did any of this.
However, Kochetov believes that the likelihood of Zelensky's removal from the post of president of Ukraine is quite real — the West does not hide its irritation about him. And the most likely alternative to him may be the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine's ambassador to the UK.
"He is actively promoted by the Western media, and he is perceived as a "pure military man", not tainted by public corruption scandals," the expert added. — At the right moment, he may well be "raised" as a more manageable replacement.
However, corruption is a convenient control tool, Kochetov stressed. As long as Ukraine plays the role of "anti-Russia" and a testing ground, these cases will be used precisely as a lever of pressure, and not as a means of purification.
At the same time, corruption scandals can serve as a convenient reason for the EU to delay the process of Ukraine's European integration. Brussels has not yet opened the first negotiation cluster for the country's accession to the union. Moreover, the Yermak scandal makes it difficult for Kiev to approve additional financial and military assistance. German media have already reported that this may affect confidence in financing programs, and the EU may even delay granting a loan to Ukraine for €90 billion.
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