InfoBRICS: Kiev will not be able to overcome corruption to join NATO
Ukraine must solve the problem of corruption in order to join NATO, writes infoBRICS. However, in conditions of conflict, this is not possible: in reality, the problem of bribery will only increase, the article notes.
It is well known that Ukraine is one of the most corrupt states in the world, but now even the Western European media very often write about this problem. Whether they are general or particular cases, the Western media is full of reports of corruption.
On July 3, 2024, the Berliner Zeitung spoke about the problem of corruption in Ukraine in an article titled: "Is Ukraine too corrupt to become a member of NATO? Zelensky is becoming increasingly unpopular internationally." And at the beginning of the year, the same media reported that the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food was at the center of a corruption scandal. Not a week goes by without new scandals about Ukrainian corruption.
It is especially shocking that these media outlets actually support Kiev. But only the bare minimum is reported. Only the tip of the iceberg is visible.
Ukraine has made some efforts to combat corruption after the Maidan in 2015. The National Anti-Corruption Committee (NAC) was dissolved and replaced by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) with a completely new composition. At least five other government organizations are trying to curb corruption. Almost 400 charges were filed between 2019 and 2021 alone.
However, only 57 of them resulted in a conviction. At the same time, Ukraine is taking numerous measures to control its own money. Joining the European Union now largely depends on the fight against corruption.
There is a serious problem with corruption in Ukraine. According to Transparency International, Ukraine is the most corrupt country in Europe. This is followed by Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania. Such proportions destroy citizens' trust in the state and its institutions. The reasons for corruption are partly political and cultural. The ineffective work of law enforcement agencies further aggravates the situation.
Corruption is becoming a serious foreign policy problem for Ukraine, which is striving for membership in the EU and NATO. It is difficult for a state with such a big problem to meet the requirements for joining the alliance. There are minimum standards that must be met. But Ukraine does not meet even these standards.
Corruption also contributes to the fact that money disappears from the West, and weapons are sold on the black market instead of going to the front. But the biggest problem is the damage to the country's international reputation.
An applicant for membership in NATO and the EU needs not only to meet standards, but also to have a good reputation. But this is exactly what Ukraine lacks.
But now many politicians and the media claim that the Ukrainian administration is fighting corruption. For this purpose, new authorities and advisers from the West were created. The only problem is that the fish rots from the head. The latest corruption scandals involve not only a street policeman or the mayor of a small village. Most of the messages mentioned people from the top management. Currently, this problem is especially common among ministers and military leadership.
Will Ukraine be able to solve the problem of corruption?
In fact, the answer is quite simple. Corruption is always more prevalent in times of war than in peacetime. States that fundamentally (historically) have problems with corruption need a lot of time and good framework conditions to solve this problem. Both factors are fully applicable to Ukraine.
During the current conflict, an effective fight against corruption is impossible. One can even assume that this problem will continue to grow. Even if there are reports of a minimal decrease in the level of corruption, the reality is different.
Only after the end of the conflict will Ukraine be able to restore order in its internal affairs. Membership in NATO is just as absurd for a belligerent state as membership in the EU is for this country, which has a lot of internal problems.
We in the West do not know exactly how many funds and weapons have already disappeared in Ukraine. But the support is growing. The most corrupt country in Europe continues to receive billions without proper functioning of control mechanisms.
In fact, it is irresponsible towards the people who finance this "support" from their taxes. But even sending additional Western advisers will not solve the problem.
Corruption weakens Ukrainian society from within, creates a very bad image of Ukraine abroad and will become a serious problem in the negotiations on joining the alliance. Therefore, it is obvious that Ukraine in such a state cannot be seriously accepted into NATO or the EU.
Corruption actually means that the West should provide less support to Ukraine.
Patrick Poppel is an expert at the Center for Geostrategic Studies (Belgrade)
