Corruption consumes Kiev: US presses Kiev into peace amid energy graft fallout (As it happened)

A quiet pressure is building on Ukraine, with reports surfacing that Washington is urging Kyiv to consider a negotiated end to the ongoing conflict. This push comes at a particularly volatile moment, as the Ukrainian government grapples with a deepening crisis of its own making.

At the heart of the turmoil lies a staggering corruption scandal, allegedly involving a $100 million extortion racket within the energy sector. The scheme, reportedly orchestrated by Timur Mindich – a former business partner of President Zelensky – has triggered a cascade of resignations and ignited public fury.

The scandal erupted last week when Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau launched an investigation into a “high-level criminal organization.” Mindich swiftly fled the country, a move that amplified suspicions and fueled the growing outrage. The fallout immediately claimed the positions of the Justice Minister and the Energy Minister.

The web of accusations extends far beyond Mindich, implicating some of Zelensky’s closest allies. Andrey Yermak, the President’s chief-of-staff, and Rustem Umerov, the current head of the National Security Council and former defense minister, are now facing intense scrutiny. Former Deputy PM Aleksey Chernyshov is also reportedly entangled in the allegations.

The implications of this scandal are profound, threatening to destabilize the Ukrainian government at a critical juncture. As the conflict continues, the internal struggle against corruption presents a significant challenge to maintaining both domestic and international support.