Despite the creation of new institutions to combat corruption in Ukraine, their activities did not lead to tangible results. This is stated in the report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), published on the organization’s website.
“Growth (economies. - RT ) is constrained by a weak business environment, taking into account weaknesses in the legal framework, widespread corruption, and also due to the fact that a large part of the economy is dominated by inefficient state enterprises or oligarchs, which undermines competition and harms the investment climate” , - is indicated in the report.
The document also notes that Kiev needs to deal with the acceleration of structural reforms, increased competition and the opening of markets. In addition, the IMF called on the Ukrainian authorities to reduce the participation of the state and oligarchs in the country's economy.
We will remind, earlier the fund called the conditions for the provision of the next tranches to Kiev. One of these requirements was the obligation of Ukraine to fight corruption effectively.
After the publication of the IMF report, Ukrainian Prime Minister Aleksey Goncharuk stated that a discussion on a new assistance program was already being held with representatives of the fund.
“Negotiations with international partners in the active phase. We started discussing a new three-year support program under the expanded financing mechanism, ”he wrote on Telegram.
Goncharuk also added that the parties will continue to consult the next few weeks, after which Kiev will have to receive recommendations from the IMF board of directors in order to open a new program of cooperation.
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Alexey Goncharuk
- © SERGEI SUPINSKY / AFP
At the same time, on the eve of the Ukrainian media reported that Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund after two weeks of discussions could not agree on a new lending program. As the main reason for the failure of the negotiations, a possible settlement agreement was indicated, which the state and the former owners of Privatbank supposedly could conclude. In addition, according to Ukrainian media, the IMF may be dissatisfied with a possible change in the leadership of the National Bank, as well as the fact that Kiev has not yet submitted the final version of the state budget for 2020.
Meanwhile, experts believe that the IMF is downplaying the degree of corruption in Ukraine.
“In reality, the scale of the tragedy is even greater. Over the past five years, the prosperity of corruption schemes has multiplied. This is not surprising, since the establishment of a clan-oligarchic system that actively participates in shaping the country's political course and has corruption relations at the level of large business has occurred. However, this scheme applies to ordinary citizens who are forced to play by the same rules, ”Oleg Nemensky, an expert at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, explained in an interview with RT.
According to him, the West has repeatedly tried to combat bribery in Ukraine, because it quickly realized that the funds allocated to it “fall into the black hole”.
“However, it was not possible to solve this problem. Therefore, it is not necessary to talk about the effectiveness of Kiev’s spending of funds allocated by the IMF and other organizations, and Western countries understand this, ”the expert noted.
According to him, the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky is also unlikely to be able to radically change the situation.
“Zelensky’s coming to power is another victory of the oligarchic system, in which corruption schemes will only multiply and flourish,” the analyst predicted.
According to Oleg Nemensky, documents similar to the IMF report serve as a justification to show the pointlessness of allocating new tranches.
“The International Monetary Fund minimizes financial assistance to Ukraine. But at the same time, he will not completely stop financing for his own benefit, ”Nemensky believes.
From the point of view of the president of the Center for System Analysis and Forecasting Rostislav Ishchenko, the IMF seeks not so much to help Ukraine as to “pump money out of it”.
- President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky
- © Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
“The fund has already reduced financial assistance to Ukraine to the minimum limit that the IMF needs so that the country continues to pay its debts,” the analyst said in an interview with RT.
Ishchenko added that the information on corruption in Ukraine in the IMF report is “an obvious fact.”
"Has become a burden"
It is worth noting that not only the IMF is in no hurry to provide financial assistance to the Ukrainian side. Reuters, citing sources in the White House, said that the Donald Trump administration plans to delay part of the funds of $ 250 million that are intended for Ukraine as military assistance - we are talking about an amount of $ 30 million.
Earlier, the American leader has repeatedly stated his intention to limit such funding. The last time he announced this on September 24 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, emphasizing that Ukraine should allocate funds primarily to the European Union.
“They do not do this. Only the United States. We invest most of the money, and I ask: why on earth? ”Said the head of the White House.
Trump made a similar claim during a recent meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
“We spend so much money - on Ukraine and not only. Why is Germany not spending more money? Why is France not doing this? Why do other European countries not render Ukraine more significant assistance? Why is the USA always doing this? I talk about this from the very beginning. I don’t like that only we are doing this, ”said the American leader.
According to Oleg Nemensky, in the West "fervor" has diminished around the ideas of providing Ukraine with various kinds of financial assistance.
“Western countries have finally realized that Ukraine is an inefficient political and economic project,” the expert explained.
He stressed that over the past five years, the Ukrainian economy has only degraded. Nemensky stated that the country was never able to become an attractive sales market, which Germany had hoped in due time.
“Ukraine has become a burden for the European economy, because it constantly requires help, which still goes nowhere,” the analyst said.
In addition, in his opinion, the West has enough political reasons in order to reduce financial injections into Ukraine.
“Kiev was never able to resolve the armed conflict in the Donbass, which only interferes with Western politics. Ukraine turned out to be much more restless and uncomfortable charges than expected, ”the expert noted.
Lack of prospects
The demand for Kiev to deal with corruption is also put forward in the North Atlantic Alliance, saying that only if this problem is overcome, Ukraine can become a member of the bloc.
Thus, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, during a press conference at Columbia University, commenting on the likelihood of Kiev joining the alliance, said that for the Ukrainian side “it is important to focus on reforms, modernize and strengthen security and defense institutions, fight corruption, and strengthen the rule of law ".
“Any country wishing to join NATO is obliged to fulfill certain conditions and thus meet specific standards,” Stoltenberg emphasized.
In an interview with RT, Oleg Nemensky explained that financial assistance to Ukraine in the military sphere has also shown to be ineffective.
“Ukraine is a black hole for the arms market, which then diverges around the world and ends up at points that are undesirable for the alliance,” the expert says.
In his opinion, Kiev has no prospects for joining NATO.
“Despite the fact that Ukraine is more and more under the control of the North Atlantic Alliance - the bloc is behaving in this country already in a businesslike manner and continues to expand its influence - the alliance is not going to grant Ukraine any rights, since this would directly contradict its interests,” - said the analyst.
NATO does not want to "get involved in the problems of Ukraine," says Nemensky.
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
- © Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
“After all, if the alliance intends to enter into conflict with the Russian Federation, it will do so without any reason that Kiev can provide it. But NATO is already in a difficult organizational crisis, and there is no need for additional difficulties. In addition, the bloc’s leadership is embarrassed that most of the Ukrainian population speaks Russian and anti-Russian statements may simply not work on these people, ”the expert said.
In addition, as noted by Rostislav Ishchenko, Ukraine is not interested in NATO in terms of military strategy.
“The position of the alliance is such that each member should strengthen overall security, and not weaken it. And in the Ukrainian territory there is a civil war, Kiev does not recognize the status of Crimea. Thus, the admission of Ukraine to the bloc would provoke a conflict between NATO and Russia. In addition, Kiev cannot make its contribution to the security of the alliance, ”Ishchenko concluded.