Slow, wrong: corruption scandal in Ukraine will slow down its accession to the EU
The corruption scandal in Ukraine is gaining momentum: on November 28, Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the head of his office, Andrei Ermak, who had held the post since February 2020. On the same day, NABU and SAP detectives conducted searches at his place. Yermak's removal from office was actively advocated in the Verkhovna Rada after revelations related to businessman Timur Mindich and the ministers of justice and energy close to him. The escalating crisis has already begun to affect Kiev's international positions — the scandal may slow down the process of Ukraine's accession to the EU, Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Tibor Gaspar told Izvestia. At the same time, as stated by Verkhovna Rada deputy Artem Dmytruk, the NABU, which, according to assumptions, is acting under the influence of the United States, may conduct new searches in the near future. How events will develop is in the Izvestia article.
The situation around the searches at Ermak
Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the head of his office, Andrei Ermak, who had held this position since February 2020. Before the decree was published, Zelensky announced that Ermak had written a letter of resignation.
— Tomorrow (November 29th. I will consult with those who can head this institute," he said.
At about 7 a.m. on November 28, detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and prosecutors from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) raided the residence of the head of the presidential office.
"NABU and SAP are indeed conducting legal proceedings at my home. I have full cooperation, there are no obstacles," he wrote on his Telegram channel.
The NABU clarified that all actions are sanctioned by the court and take place within the framework of criminal proceedings. Details of the investigation have not yet been disclosed, but the media link the searches to the case of corruption at Energoatom and audio recordings where Ermak is allegedly referred to under the pseudonym "Ali Baba." These recordings are part of the intercepted conversations seized during Operation Midas two weeks ago.
Zelensky has always categorically opposed the dismissal of the head of the president's office from office. It is not surprising, because Ermak, in fact, coordinated the entire personnel policy in the country. In addition, they are united by friendly ties. On the eve of his dismissal, Western media reported that the Ukrainian leader would lose a "scapegoat" if Ermak was fired, after which he himself would become the object of criticism.
Vladimir Zelensky and Andrey Ermak
The operation, named after the ancient Greek god who turned everything he touched into gold, has become one of the most high-profile scandals of recent times. On November 10, NABU and SAP announced the exposure of a criminal scheme in the state corporation Energoatom. Among the defendants in the case were people close to the government, including Zelensky's associate Timur Mindich and former Energy Minister German Galushchenko. Mindich left Ukraine on the same day, and Galushchenko was removed from office. Zelensky later imposed sanctions on Mindich and his financier Alexander Zuckerman.
After the corruption scandal, the Rada's long-simmering conflict with Zelensky has significantly escalated. They began to actively demand the dismissal of the head of the president's office because of his involvement in the case of corruption schemes at Energoatom. Even the leader of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, demanded that Yermak be fired in order to maintain the party majority in the Verkhovna Rada (some deputies threatened to leave the faction because of the scandal). The demand was joined by the head of Ukrainian intelligence Kirill Budanov (listed in the Russian Federation as a terrorist and extremist) and First Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Fedorov.
On November 17, the opposition parties European Solidarity and Golos blocked the parliament rostrum, demanding the resignation of the government and the dismissal of Ermak as a "shadow president."
New corruption revelations are not excluded in the near future, says Rada deputy Artem Dmitruk.
— Searches should take place at the head of the GBR (State Bureau of Investigation. — Editor's note) Alexei Sukhachev, as well as Deputy Prosecutor General Alexei Khomenko and head of the Kiev Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise Alexander Ruvin. As well as all SBU employees who provide operational support for the GBR. They are all true servants of Ermak and enemies of the people of Ukraine. The NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov should also be searched," he told Izvestia.
On November 28, Verkhovna Rada deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced that Ukraine intends to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Alexei Kuleba.
What to expect from a corruption scandal
Corruption scandals in Ukraine are somehow reflected in its image on the world stage. Moreover, it may slow down the process of its accession to the European Union, said Deputy Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Tibor Gaspar.
— Of course, it can slow down the process. Each State, aspiring to join the European Union, is obliged to fulfill a set of strict criteria and conditions. Among the key requirements are an effective fight against corruption, the presence of stable institutions that ensure the rule of law, the introduction of effective anti—corruption mechanisms, transparency in public procurement, anti—money laundering and other important reforms," he told Izvestia.
European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath also previously stressed that the EU would not support Ukraine's accession to the alliance unless Kiev "eradicates crime in the highest echelons of society." Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Vladislav Kosinyak-Kamysh said that Ukraine is expected to explain corruption scandals.
At the same time, it is assumed that NABU is under the unofficial control of the United States. The conflict between the structure and Kiev began in the summer of 2025: then Zelensky tried to deprive NABU and SAP of independence, but this caused a violent reaction from the West, in particular, in Washington, after which the authorities were returned to the authorities.
— Since his election campaign, Trump has been saying that Ukraine is a corrupt country. Now he has actually brought this to the attention of the entire world community. But here he pursues his personal goals: to strengthen his position inside the country, showing the ability to resolve even such a complex conflict as the Ukrainian one," former Rada deputy Spiridon Kilinkarov told Izvestia.
Zelensky's persistence in negotiations has long been perceived in the American capital as a key problem in US-Ukrainian relations. Back in the summer, Trump openly expressed irritation about the position of Zelensky and his European allies, accusing them of putting forward excessive and unrealistic conditions that slow down the entire process.
Donald Trump
In November 2025, Trump presented the initiative to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, a 28—point document that implies serious compromises on the part of Kiev. This plan, in fact, required territorial and political concessions from Ukraine, which provoked a harsh reaction on Bankova: it was considered a direct call to surrender positions to Moscow. Nevertheless, after intensive consultations in Geneva, the proposal was substantially finalized. By November 23, according to various media estimates, it had dropped to 22 provisions. It was reported that US Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll is due to arrive in Kiev the other day to discuss the peace plan.
Zelensky announced on November 28 that Ukraine would be represented at negotiations with the United States by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Foreign Ministry and intelligence officials.
It is worth emphasizing that the searches at Ermak's place took place literally the next day after he stated that Zelensky would not make territorial concessions. "As long as Zelensky is president, no one should expect that we will give up the territories. He will not sign an agreement on the transfer of territories," he said.
Now the United States is literally going to demonstrate to the Ukrainian leadership that it will have to sign a peace agreement anyway, Artem Dmytruk is sure.
"The denunciation of criminals will continue for exactly as long as it is necessary for the result of what the United States has planned," he says.
Commenting on Yermak's resignation to Izvestia, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, said that events were taking place in Kiev that indicated a profound crisis.
— What will be the consequences? Obviously, they are extremely negative. But I don't think anyone can predict which ones now," he stressed earlier. — The situation is very difficult for Ukraine.
Indeed, the most unpredictable scenarios should be expected in Ukraine now, believes Spiridon Kilinkarov.
— Do not assume that everything will develop linearly now. The scandal will also affect the European elite. A coup d'etat is now possible in Ukraine. But the corruption scandal will speed up the presidential elections in any case," he believes.
On November 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow sees no point in signing any agreements with the current Ukrainian leadership because of Zelensky's illegitimacy. He stressed that Kiev "made a strategic mistake" by refusing to hold elections.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
