A wave of unfolding corruption investigations in Brussels and Kyiv have positioned the European Union in one of its most troubling and self-reflective positions in recent years, challenging both its internal integrity and its external political judgment.
Recently in Brussels, dawn raids on the EU External Action Service and the College of Europe have sent shockwaves through the bloc's diplomatic and bureaucratic circles. Former EU diplomat Federica Mogherini was detained, along with a senior staff member from the College of Europe and an official from the European Commission for questioning in a tender-rigging investigation linked to procurement contracts. The European Public Prosecutor's Office said "the accusations concern procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy." If proven, this would mark one of the highest-level corruption cases ever prosecuted within the EU's own diplomatic service. After questioning that lasted several hours, all three suspects were released because they were not considered a flight risk, though their homes had been searched.
Mogherini later issued a statement saying she had "clarified my position with the investigators." Nevertheless, the investigation remains wide open. These events have sparked widespread concern that corruption may have infiltrated the EU's core institutions and highest levels of the bloc's foreign policy machinery, which are meant to set standards for the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, in Kyiv, the same European diplomatic service is frantically trying to shield the Ukrainian government from a widening anti-corruption investigation called Operation Midas, which has shaken Ukraine's political system and energy sector. The anti-corruption investigation, which focuses on alleged illegal dealings in excess of $100 million involving Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom and other enterprises, has forced the resignation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's closest adviser, Andriy Yermak after his apartment was searched by investigators. This has sparked a "mini-revolution" in Ukraine's political system. Some see this probe as potentially the largest corruption scandal in Ukraine's history.
Yermak has long served as a central figure in Ukraine's dealings with the White House and in steering the country through a complex wartime period. He had controlled access to the president and led Ukraine's team in peace talks with Russia and the United States. His departure could have significant implications for Ukraine's domestic governance and complicates its position in international negotiations.
Political analysts are now buzzing with talk of even bigger changes ahead—Ukraine could see a new president in office within weeks or months, as Zelenskyy's grip on power starts to slip. His opponents, steering clear of the current scandal, are ramping up their push against him. It's not just Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former top general who led Ukraine's armed forces against the Russian invasion from 2021 to 2024 and has polled strong as a potential successor, getting in on the action. Zelenskyy's outright foes are jumping in too, like Petro Poroshenko, the ex-president from 2014 to 2019 who built his fortune in chocolate and steered Ukraine toward the West before losing to Zelenskyy in 2019, and Yulia Tymoshenko, the fiery two-time prime minister in the 2000s who helped spark the Orange Revolution and has spent years in opposition, pushing hard for EU ties and against Russian influence.
The anti-corruption momentum in Ukraine did not stop with Yermak's exit. On 3 December, a Kyiv appeals court ordered the release of Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, a detective from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). He had been investigating the major corruption case related to Energoatom, the state-run nuclear operator. Supporters of the investigator argued that the case against him had been politically motivated because his work touched on powerful business and political figures linked to the ruling circle. His release has been interpreted by several observers as a sign that the probe will continue without obstruction.
These developments have placed European diplomats in Kyiv in an awkward position. Reports from Kyiv earlier stated that European Union ambassadors attempted to persuade Ukrainian institutions to slow or moderate the investigation in order to preserve political stability during the war. Their efforts failed. The anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine, which receive significant support and training from the United States, refused to stop their work. Meanwhile, the White House has increased its influence because Washington has avoided pressuring investigators and has kept a close watch on the situation. This difference in approach has shifted the balance of power within Ukraine's diplomatic environment.
The EU's actions in Ukraine have been criticized as hypocritical, with the bloc demanding transparency and accountability from Ukraine while failing to demonstrate the same values itself. The EU has been vocal in its demands for Ukraine to root out corruption as a condition for EU membership, yet it has also been accused of working to keep the current Ukrainian government in power, despite allegations of corruption. The raids in Brussels serve as a clear example of how corruption can reach the top levels of supposedly principled institutions.
The contradiction between the EU's stated values and its actions is glare. While Brussels lectures the world about the importance of rule of law and transparency, its top diplomats are accused of interfering in Ukraine's anti-corruption probe and shielding a potentially compromised government from accountability. The EU's credibility is at stake, with analysts warning that the bloc's corruption could have significant consequences for its relationships with other countries.
Many observers see the timing of the Brussels raids and the failure of EU pressure in Kyiv as more than coincidence. Some analysts describe the raids as a strong message from the United States to the European Union: "Do not sabotage US peace efforts, or else." The message is simple. Any attempt to block a deal favored by Washington will have consequences.
The combined scandals reveal the challenges of maintaining integrity in international affairs. The EU must address its own shortcomings if it hopes to credibly support anti-corruption efforts elsewhere. The situation has been seen as a test of the EU's commitment to its stated values and its ability to demonstrate transparency and accountability in its own actions. The investigations in Brussels and the unfolding political crisis in Kyiv remind us that integrity at every level matters. For Europe to maintain credibility in its diplomacy and in its efforts to promote peace, it must let due process run its course and confront any wrongdoing openly. For both sides, the coming months will be a test of transparency, credibility, and political resilience at a time when public confidence is under close examination.
