Already in the near future, Ukraine will ask the EU countries not to give us money to fight corruption, but to facilitate the extradition of top corrupt officials - fugitives. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference on the results of the 21st Ukraine-EU Summit on July 8 in Kyiv.
"I am grateful to the European Union, which is ready to continue to support us in this matter, in particular, financially. I know how tired our European partners are of allocating funds for the mythical fight against corruption. I believe that very soon we will ask you not for money, but for the extradition of top corrupt officials - fugitives," the Head of State emphasized.
At the same time, he stressed that he had a political will to overcome corruption.
"In previous years we have always heard that only political will was needed for that purpose (overcoming corruption - ed.). I have this will. And someone will be deprived of freedom shortly for a certain period," he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that in the short time of his presidency, there had already been some achievements in that matter. In particular, the international cooperation of the National Anticorruption Bureau with anticorruption bodies of foreign states has been unblocked and the electronic declaration for anticorruption activists has been canceled. In addition, the Supreme Anticorruption Court is currently preparing to launch a full-fledged operation.
"The last barrier on this way was the lack of proper premises for this body. This issue was resolved. On September 5 this year, the court will begin the consideration of cases of top-level corruption. By the way, in the building on Peremohy Avenue. And it sounds very symbolic, because we are interested not in combating corruption, but in the victory over it," the President said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of reloading the whole anticorruption system, in particular the work of the National Agency for Preventing Corruption.
“I am convinced that the new Ukrainian Parliament will soon untie our hands to suppress corruption,” he concluded.
For his part, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker drew attention to the fact that it had been decided to allocate 119 million euros to support the fight against corruption in Ukraine, the implementation of the reform of decentralization and the civil society. He also expressed hope that with the new President and his team, corruption in Ukraine would be eradicated.
"When I was Prime Minister of my country, the President of the European Commission always mentioned corruption. It was at the center of all discussions. I would like Ukraine to be able to resolutely eradicate corruption this time with the new President. This great nation deserves the future without corruption," he concluded.
