The country has been plagued by a slew of high-profile graft scandals as Kiev struggles to implement promised reforms
Ukraine’s failure to tackle rampant corruption has left its bid to join the EU lagging behind other countries, the European Commission has declared.
In its annual enlargement package published on Wednesday, Brussels demanded that that Kiev “demonstrates significant progress in tackling and preventing corruption” and that the country is lagging behind Montenegro and Moldova in terms of meeting membership criteria.
The Commission assessed Ukraine’s preparedness in the judiciary, the fight against corruption, and the protection of fundamental rights as falling between some and moderate. It recorded only limited progress on judicial reforms, while noting that “the slowing down of legislative decision-making” in the Ukrainian parliament – where Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is struggling to whip up a reliable voting majority – is “a point of concern.”
The Commission’s newly published accession roadmap also offers little certainty for Kiev, with the document envisaging Ukraine provisionally closing just seven of the 33 main negotiating chapters in 2027, none of which have to do directly with corruption that has plagued the ex-Soviet nation for decades.
However, EU officials sought to sugarcoat the report, with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos arguing that “there is no other country that is advancing towards EU membership under such difficult circumstances.”
At the same time, Kos heaped praise on Moldova, calling it the “best performer in my class,” referring to the EU’s assessment that the country could provisionally close as many as 25 of the 33 main negotiating chapters in 2027. At the same time, she acknowledged that Chisinau still faces substantial challenges, particularly in establishing a solid record of investigations, prosecutions, and final court rulings in corruption cases.
Despite the sweet talk, Brussels has stopped short of offering Moldova and Ukraine any firm dates for joining the bloc. In addition, several European leaders have ruled out that Kiev could join the EU until peace with Russia is reached, while Moldova continues to grapple with the unresolved conflict over Transnistria, a region that broke away from Chisinau in the 1990s and where Russian peacekeepers remain stationed.
Corruption has long been Ukraine’s bane, which has only gained steam after the escalation of conflict with Russia in 2022. A study by CASE Ukraine estimated that undeclared wages and informal employment deprived the state of more than $5 billion in tax revenue in 2025. Smuggling, grey imports, and customs violations cost the state another $2.4 billion.
The country has also been rocked by a slew of high-profile graft scandals, including an alleged kickback scheme involving the state nuclear energy company Energoatom and Timur Mindich, Zelensky’s former close associate. Ukrainian investigators announced on Wednesday that they had completed a probe into the alleged network, which they said had funneled more than $111 million and €12 million in illicit funds through its money-laundering operation.
Stalled anti-corruption reforms also carry grave financial consequences for cash-strapped Kiev, as the EU has tied the release of billions in budget support to progress on reforms, including the rule of law and corruption prevention.
