Budapest is no longer alone in questioning how European taxpayer cash is used in Ukraine, as a sweeping corruption scandal involving more than €80 million spreads across Kyiv. Investigations have so far uncovered duffel bags filled with cash, and even a golden toilet, in apartments in the Ukrainian capital.
Even German chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed last week that “we expect Ukraine to press ahead with anti-corruption measures and reforms in its own country.”
But the liberal EPP faction in the European Parliament blocked a request for a plenary debate on the risks to EU taxpayers’ money being sent to Kyiv.
The Patriots for Europe group made the request, arguing that “ensuring transparency and accountability is not ‘taking sides’—it is our responsibility to protect Europeans, especially as the Commission asks for €135 billion more in funding.”
🚨 | Patriots for Europe called for a plenary debate on the recent corruption allegations in Ukraine and the risks to EU taxpayers’ money.
Today, the left–liberal–EPP majority blocked this request.
Tomio Okamura, leader of the Czech Republic’s right-wing Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) and now his country’s parliament speaker, joined the criticism on Wednesday.
Citing Viktor Orbán’s claim that a “mafia network closely linked to President Volodymyr Zelensky” had been uncovered in Ukraine, he argued that “the Czech Republic should [not] pay for the corrupt regime in Ukraine” and called for “not a single penny” more in funding.
Maďarský premiér Orbán nechce financovat mafiánskou síť úzce propojenou s ukrajinským prezidentem Zelenským. Odmítáme, aby Česká republika platila zkorumpovaný režim na Ukrajině. Na korupční skandál na Ukrajině reagoval maďarský premiér Viktor Orbán prohlášením, že v zemi byla… pic.twitter.com/Lhei35ZQSd
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó praised Okamura for his statement, saying this was “very well said, Mr. Speaker!”
Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, described the corruption scandal as “extremely unfortunate” and said that Kyiv should “take it very seriously.” If only Brussels would do the same.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
