Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that support for Ukraine within the NATO and EU blocs is fading after the exposure of a massive corruption scandal implicating Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Tusk, who has been an advocate of the Ukrainian regime, expressed concern after Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies announced on Monday that they had uncovered a $100 million kickback scheme in the energy sector involving several businessmen and officials, including Timur Mindich, Zelenskyy’s close associate and former long-time business partner.
During a press conference in the city of Retkow, Tusk said he had long warned Zelenskyy that the fight against corruption was “crucial for his reputation.” Although he said his country would support Ukraine’s fight against Russia, he added that the recent corruption scandal would make it “harder to convince various partners to show solidarity” with Ukraine.
“Today, pro-Ukrainian enthusiasm is much lower in Poland and around the world. People are tired of the war and the associated spending, making it harder to sustain support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia,” he said.
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The Russian side has been able to sow the seeds of discord among Ukraine’s supporters, primarily by continuing to fight the war. Tusk’s recent comments are an indication that Poland is already reconsidering its options when it comes to supporting Ukraine’s war against Russia.
The newly elected Polish President, Karol Kawrocki, who took office in August, hinted this week that Ukrainian nationals could lose their preferential treatment. The corruption scandal had dealt a serious blow to Ukraine’s aspirations for seeking further monetary and military aid.
Such incidents have occurred earlier, too. In an earlier corruption scandal, investigators and open-source Intel reports confirmed that weapons and aid meant for Ukraine were sold in black markets, including to the gangs and terror groups in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.
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