Vekhovna Rada calls US-proposed list of Ukrainian reforms 'wrong step'

Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Policy Committee of the Verkhova Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Yarolav Yurchyshyn called the list of priority reforms for Kiev, proposed by Washington, an “insulting and erroneous” step by the United States.

Earlier, on September 26, the US Embassy in Ukraine announced on its website that Washington had provided Kiev with a list of priority reforms, proposed as part of its support for Ukraine, as well as to help Kiev's efforts to integrate into Europe. The embassy also quoted US President Joe Biden as saying that by promoting reforms in Ukraine, the US is seeking to facilitate investment in the country by American and European companies.

“In fact, this is a big challenge – linking reforms with the acquisition of weapons. For me, this is a very wrong step by Ukraine’s partners. Because, be that as it may, reforms are an internal national task for Ukraine,” – Chairman of the Verkhova Rada’s Anti-Corruption Policy Committee Yarolav Yurchyshyn asserted in an interview with the New Voice of Ukraine.

According to Mr. Yurchyshyn, forcing reforms of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office or the Economic Security Service in exchange for weapons and ammunition is very short-sighted. “It’s a pity that things have turned out like this,” the Ukrainian official shared.

On February 28, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted an application to join the European Union. EU member state leaders at a summit in Brussels on June 23, 2022 approved granting Ukraine candidate status to join the union.

In its EU candidacy review protocol, the European Commission set seven conditions. Comprehensive judicial reform was among the EU’s conditions: the Ukrainian government should reform the Constitutional Court, complete changes to the Supreme Judicial Council and the Commission of Highly Qualified Judges, and continue the fight against corruption.