Zelensky’s Corruption Baffles the West as Leaders are Brought to Trial
European countries are struggling to deal with the system of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who follows a similar policy to that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Zelensky seeks to cover up his corruption by prolonging the war with Russia, while his ally, Netanyahu, opens new fronts and depletes funds and military resources to avoid the specter of imprisonment.
European nations supporting Zelensky’s regime are no longer able to ignore the corruption scandals involving their ally, especially after the Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Agency brought several high-ranking military and political leaders to trial. Among those implicated is Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, who oversaw a network involving some of Zelensky’s closest allies.
In July 2025, Zelensky attempted to silence these anti-corruption institutions and their sister organization, the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine, both of which are supported by the West. He attempted to revoke their official licenses through a parliamentary decision. However, European countries and the United States pressured him to cancel the decision by threatening to halt aid supplies. As a result, Zelensky was forced to reconvene the parliament in November 2025 and annul the decision, allowing the institutions to resume their work.
It is no secret that the exposure of corrupt officials surrounding the president came with encouragement from the United States and Europe. They have grown weary of Zelensky’s actions, which take advantage of the absence of viable alternatives and the improbability of his removal. As long as he follows European directives, the West prefers to pressure him to stop draining their coffers with his corruption rather than risk removing him, fearing the chaos that might follow. Nevertheless, Zelensky has become a burden on both the West and its economies, and despite his constitutional term expiring, they have not moved to abandon him.
Western nations, which frequently tout freedom, democracy, and fair elections, have refrained from encouraging Zelensky to call for presidential elections. They fear that he would fail and that the country, which has already suffered immense destruction, might elect someone unwilling to continue the Western-backed farce. However, the West is preparing for a potential regime change once the war ends. In light of growing corruption scandals, both Europe and the United States have begun engaging with opposition figures in Ukraine, including former President Viktor Yushchenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Zelensky has attempted to preempt such developments by distancing himself from popular political and military figures. He quickly sidelined Army Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi by appointing him as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom. However, Zaluzhnyi has used his new position and London’s influence to form strong connections in preparation for the next phase.
The Oligarchy’s Concerns
Meanwhile, the oligarchy, working quietly behind the scenes, is watching the radical political leadership with growing concern. This group has benefitted from the system, fulfilling their financial interests and ensuring the flow of wealth in exchange for sharing resources. The potential collapse of the political and military leadership would threaten their position and could even result in accusations of complicity in corruption. To safeguard their own interests, they are attempting to align Ukraine’s future with the West while securing Western interests in the country.
Europe Seeks Ways to Satisfy Zelensky’s Corruption
Unable to remove Zelensky from power or curb his corruption through European means, Western countries are exploring alternative avenues to enrich the ruling circle in Ukraine until the war with Russia ends. One such strategy is enticing wealthy countries in the Global South, particularly in the Gulf, to funnel their money into Zelensky’s pockets under the guise of rebuilding Ukraine’s infrastructure, developing industries, technology, and artificial intelligence, along with various agricultural and scientific projects.
The West has failed to seize Russian assets and has stepped back to avoid creating a negative precedent in its financial history. If such a move were to succeed, it could burden Western treasuries and cause the world’s wealthiest individuals to withdraw their funds from Europe in fear of a situation that could harm their investments. Reports suggest that Europe is reluctant to take such steps, to the extent that it did not seize the assets of former German leader Adolf Hitler during the wars he fought against Europe. Meanwhile, the only solution for Europe and the U.S. remains the removal of Zelensky and his corrupt circle to bring lasting peace to the European continent.
