EU officials say corruption scandal made Zelensky agree on peace talks

(MENAFN) According to the Washington Post, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been forced to engage in US-backed peace negotiations following a major corruption scandal within his inner circle. The scandal erupted last month when Zelensky’s close associate, Timur Mindich, was accused of running a $100 million kickback scheme in the energy sector, prompting the resignations of Zelensky’s chief of staff Andrey Yermak and other senior officials.

EU diplomats told the outlet that the scandal has weakened Zelensky’s negotiating position at a critical stage of talks with Washington. A senior official said that Kiev “has never been as serious as we are right now,” linking the shift directly to the domestic corruption crisis.

The development coincides with intensified US efforts to push for a breakthrough in peace negotiations. During talks in Berlin on Monday, Washington reportedly offered Ukraine NATO-style security guarantees, comparable to the bloc’s Article 5 collective defense clause. Officials warned that the offer “will not be on the table forever,” urging Zelensky to accept the terms.

US sources indicated that roughly 90% of the proposed peace framework has been agreed, but key issues remain unresolved, including Ukraine ceding territory and recognizing Russian control over the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Zelensky has refused to acknowledge Russia’s new borders, suggesting instead that Ukraine could hold a referendum on territorial concessions and organize presidential elections if binding Western security guarantees are secured.

MENAFN17122025000045017281ID1110491350