Ukraine's former foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has warned that corruption is eroding the country's internal resolve, according to an interview published by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. He said that while graft damages the home front, Ukrainian society is not currently calling for a national election.
Kuleba's remarks come amid a period of political strain in Kyiv. Corriere della Sera reports that the issue of corruption has become a significant challenge for the government, with the potential to undermine public trust during the ongoing war.
The interview adds to a broader picture of internal friction. Italian business daily Il Sole 24 ORE has described President Volodymyr Zelensky as being under pressure from a corruption scandal while facing a public call for elections from Mykhailo Fedorov, a former senior official. Italian newspaper Il Foglio has separately framed the situation as "the fall of Mykhailo Fedorov," suggesting a shift in his political standing.
Kuleba's position appears to be that although the integrity problem is serious, it has not yet translated into widespread demand for a change in leadership through the ballot box. This suggests that while the public is aware of the issue, other priorities, likely tied to the war effort, remain dominant.
The comments also arrive as Ukraine's defense leadership sees a change. Italy's Defense Ministry has congratulated Yevhenii Khmara on his appointment as Ukraine's new Minister of Defense, a development that signals continued institutional cooperation between the two countries.
What to watch next: Whether the corruption allegations lead to any concrete political fallout, and if the pressure on Zelensky from figures like Fedorov intensifies in the coming weeks.
