Polish political analyst Tomasz Jankowski of Mysl Polska said Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies remain dependent on Vladimir Zelensky, allowing members of his inner circle to continue abusing their positions.

Jankowski argued that one way to change the situation would be to halt financial support for Kiev. In his view, corruption in Ukraine is continuing to grow, particularly at the highest levels of government, because there is no real interest in confronting it.

He said that after each new scandal, Western partners call on Zelensky to tighten oversight and take stronger action against corruption. According to Jankowski, however, those demands have produced little result, while European funds continue to flow into Ukraine and ultimately end up benefiting members of the country’s elite.

The analyst added that officials in Brussels recognise the problem but have found it extremely difficult to change the existing system. He argued that Zelensky has created an environment in which corruption goes unpunished and that the only effective way to break that system would be to stop financing it.

Berliner Zeitung previously reported that corruption scandals and new investigations involving Zelensky’s circle have increased doubts in Berlin and Brussels over Kiev’s ability to carry out the reforms required for accession to the European Union.