White House Sends Letter Outlining Reforms for Kyiv to Get Financial Aid

The White House sent a letter that delineates reforms that Ukrainian authorities need to implement to receive further financial assistance from the US, the EU, G7 nations and international organizations such as the World Bank.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, Mike Pyle, Deputy White House National Security Adviser for International Economics, sent the letter to Ukraine’s Presidential Office, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and the multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform organizing financial aid from a variety of international sources.

The required changes are aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of various organizations and sectors in the Ukrainian government.

These organizations include the Supervisory Boards of State Enterprises, anti-corruption bodies (SAP, NABU, NAZK), the High Council of Justice, and the judicial branch as a whole. Reforms in the Ministry of Defense and all law enforcement agencies would also be required.

The changes are divided into different stages: from 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, one year and 18 months.

For the first three months the reforms include:

●      Strengthen the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP): regulate organizational activities, clarify the relationship between the Prosecutor General and the head of the SAP.

●      National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU): Increase investigators to 300, give NABU the right to wiretap and maintain the bureau’s independence.

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●      Complete the restart of the High Council of Justice (WRP): Create a Disciplinary Inspectors Service with the direct participation of independent inspectors.

●      National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAZK): Ensure the independent selection of the head of the agency.

●      Restore disclosure requirements for assets and financial statements: Restore mandatory asset declarations for all civil servants and judges and simplify this process.

Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said the letter was addressed not only to Ukraine, but also to the Donor Coordination Platform, a group of organizations including the EU, G7 governments and the main international financial organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation.

He said the next logical step is to synchronize all requirements in memoranda and financing conditions. In principle this means "money in exchange for reforms," said Zheleznyak.

According to him, the aid of $42 billion from the various donors depends on satisfying these requirements.

The letter also would require the process of selection of the management of the State Customs Service to ensure a transparent and professional-based process that involves the participation of international experts.

UPDATE: The publication "Voice of America" reached out to the White House seeking clarification regarding the sent letter. A representative of the US National Security Council, whose name the publication did not disclose, assures that the list of priority reforms sent from the US is not a condition for further military aid to Ukraine.

The source emphasizes that the document is a working version of the list of priority reforms submitted for "discussion and feedback."

"Reforms are necessary for Ukraine's European integration," emphasized the White House representative.