Fighting corruption means supporting Ukraine’s defenders on the front lines, and it is also essential to attracting the private investment the country needs to rebuild, said U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink.
The Ambassador emphasized that the fight against corruption is also very important for attracting private investment, which Ukraine needs to recover. In addition, as the Ambassador noted, this means Ukraine’s movement towards the EU and NATO.
“In my opinion, supporting reforms and the fight against corruption is supporting the dreams and desires of the people of Ukraine,” Brink added.
She also emphasized the successes that Ukraine has achieved to date, particularly in the digitalization of public services. According to the ambassador, this is not only changing Ukraine, but also “has the potential to influence and change us and other countries that can also benefit.”
“Ukraine is fighting for its existence right now, and this fight affects every person in this country and all of us. But in the midst of this struggle, the Ukrainian government, parliament and people have made tremendous progress, including in implementing these reforms,” she said.
The ambassador also welcomed Ukraine’s status as a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s working group on anti-bribery.
“As I understand it, this has already had a good impact on improving some institutional and legal capacities of anti-corruption institutions. We want to support you on your way to full membership, and we think this will help you on this path to full compliance with international criteria in these areas,” the ambassador said.