Minister Joly Says She Discussed the Issue of Combatting Corruption in Ukraine With Zelenskyy

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly rises during question period in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2023. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says she raised Canada’s concerns about corruption during her meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has recently shaken up his government amid corruption allegations.

Joly said she raised the issue several times during her visit to Ukraine over the past two days, including during meetings with Zelenskyy and other top officials.

“I raised the issue,” Joly said in a press conference at the end of her visit on Feb. 16. “It is important, as Ukrainians are fighting for further freedom to be able to live in a democracy, that the values underpinning democracy are protected.”

In addition to speaking to Zelenskyy, Joly said she has also raised the issue of corruption with the president’s top adviser, as well as Ukraine’s prosecutor general and Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko, who oversees the country’s police forces.

“[Canada is] very pleased with the fact that while they are focused on defending their sovereignty and territorial integrity, that they’re able to continue these democratic reforms and do this crackdown on corruption,” Joly said.

“We will continue to push Ukraine for democratic reforms.”

Zelenskyy, who was elected in 2019 on an anti-establishment and anti-corruption platform, fired a dozen high-level officials last month, after the arrest of a deputy defence minister suspected of graft. There had been reports that Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov was also on his way out, and three of his deputies have been replaced.

The shake-up in Zelenskyy’s government comes in response to concerns from Western allies, who have been channelling billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion last February.

Canadian Aid

Canada has since committed over $5 billion in various forms of support to Ukraine, including over $2.6 billion in assistance, over $1.2 billion in military aid, $320 million in humanitarian aid, an additional $96 million in development assistance, and over $68 million in security and stabilization programming, according to a Feb. 16 government release.

In January, Canada announced the donation of a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System and associated munitions purchased from the United States and 200 Senator Armoured Personnel Carriers. This was quickly followed by the donation of four Leopard 2 tanks.

During her visit, Joly also spoke with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska about improving the response to conflict-related sexual violence. Joly announced the allocation of over $21 million to support organizations that address this issue, according to the release.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.