Zelenskyy under pressure over corruption scandal

The Ukraine President is facing a crisis on three fronts as he battles against a corruption scandal at home, a proposed iniquitous 'peace deal' drawn up between Russia and the US and continuing bombardment from Russian strikes.

On Wednesday 19th November reports emerged that US and Russian officials had drawn up what was described as a 'peace proposal'. However it has been criticised for being one of capitulation for Kyiv who would be forced to cede territory and reduce its armed forces should it accept the 'deal' [Axios / Guardian]. 

The plan contained terms that closely mirrored Moscow's longstanding demands, a senior Ukrainian official briefed on the proposal told AFP on Wednesday [Moscow Times]. 

Zelenskyy, who has been visiting Turkey on a new peace drive in recent days, is expected to meet US Army officials on Thursday ahead of the G20 in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday [Reuters]. 

The Trump administration will be hoping that Kyiv will accept the iniquitous deal seen by critics as one of appeasement rather than a peace deal. They may also be hedging their bets given growing problems  within Zelenskyy's own administration.

In recent months the Ukrainian president has faced a backlash over reports of corruption. The country has had a long history of corruption. But the recent reports could tear apart the cohesiveness of his administration which has otherwise been a core of strength in a four year long war.

The headlines make salacious reading with talk of 'golden toilets' and 'bags of cash' being smuggled out of the country. It is a scandal that could see the Ukrainian government being brought down as major figures stand accused of corruption and embezzlement.

According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine [NABU] some £76m has been skimmed from Ukraine's energy sector by business leaders and officials. This has led to calls for Zelenskyy to fire his long-standing chief of staff Andrii Yermak [pictured above, left].

A former film producer, Yermak has served as the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine since the 11th February 2020. But while he has not been accused of profiting from embezzlement, he has been accused of stifling anti-corruption investigations.

NABU says it has uncovered a high-level criminal scheme at the heart of the government involving Ukraine's nuclear energy body, Energoatom, which runs three nuclear power plants supplying Ukraine with more than half of its electricity. The investigation alleges that insiders received kickbacks of 10-15% from Energoatom's commercial partners.

The issue is particularly sensitive as ordinary Ukrainians have to endure daily power cuts as a result of Russian attacks on the country's infrastructure.

The accused mastermind behind the scheme, Timur Mindich, a close personal associate and business partner of  Zelenskyy, has reportedly fled the country, just hours before NABU investigators arrived at his home where they found a bathroom fitted with a gold toilet.

Images of such excess will be difficult for Zelenskyy to explain. His enemies, both at home and abroad, will make political capital from the revelations. Political opponents at home will no doubt pressure Zelenskyy to sack key individuals from his administration, while seeking to secure stronger positions in the way Ukraine is run [Telegraph - paywalled]. 

Beyond its borders, Ukraine's enemies will seek to capitalise on the revelations. Russia will no doubt pressure the American administration to take advantage of a politically weakened Ukraine. The Trump administration may too see the advantage of exploiting the situation. A signed 'peace deal' - even one of attrition - would be welcomed by Trump as an achievement; another in a long line of conflicts and wars he has claimed to have ended.

The scandal will be an embarrassment to Ukraine's closest allies. While there has been no official or public comment from European leaders, many may well feel cheated by the revelations.

Conspiracy theories have long portrayed Zelenskyy as being corrupt and there have been accusations he has personally benefited from money given to the country to buy weapons.

One debunked theory is that the Ukrainian president bought luxury yachts with American aid money. The Russian disinformation plot was successful however. The false reports took off online and were echoed by members of the US Congress who were making crucial decisions about military spending [BBC].

But while those specific reports have been put to bed, the latest scandal - with headlines about gold toilets and bags of cash - do nothing to silence the critics and further bolster those who perpetuate conspiracy theories.

This latest scandal could be a turning point. It could all go south and see the country collapse and Russia ceding vast swathes of territory as the political turmoil ensues.

But it could see Zelenskyy grasping the nettle and turning the situation around.

The former president, Petro Poroshenko has called for the current cabinet to be sacked and for a government of national unity to be formed. This is unlikely to happen since Poroshenko was himself embroiled in a defence procurement scandal, which played a role in his 2019 defeat and which saw Zelenskyy winning on the back of a promise to clean up corruption.

Corruption is nothing new in Ukraine, and Zelenskyy has made inroads to clean up politics. This latest episode could be one that makes or breaks the wartime president.

Some observers believe the very fact the scandal even came to light is an indication that Zelenskyy has helped turn things around and that the country is slowly moving in the right direction. Oleksandr Abakumov, the head of NABU's investigating team, acknowledged his colleagues had "faced a lot of obstacles" pursuing an earlier case of corruption known as the Mindich case. "This isn't a story about corruption in Ukraine. It's about how the country is struggling with corruption, fighting with corruption." [Guardian]

Zelenkyy's biggest decision is whether he can step up to the plate and sack his right-hand man. Zelenskyy's chief of staff has amassed a level of power rarely seen in modern Ukraine. He is unelected and lacks popular support. This latest episode in Ukrainian politics could now be the final straw.

"We have to deal with him, he's Zelenskyy's man," a senior European official told the Kyiv Independent. "We don't have a choice."


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Starmer’s future in question as political storm rages

It all looks like a script from a political soap opera as the country heads to a nightmare budget before Christmas. On Thursday 13th November figures were published indicating growth had fallen to 0.1%, down from 0.3% in the previous quarter.

That all comes on the back of a nightmare two weeks in which the new Deputy PM and Justice Secretary had to deflect awkward criticism after it was revealed a convicted asylum seeker was mistakenly released from prison, only for an Algerian sex offender who was due for deportation, to also be accidentally released, just one of more than 90 prisoners accidentally released over seven months [Sky News]. Of course much of the problem was an inherited one, it wasn't a good look.

And this all on the back of a series of resignations, sacking and political manoeuvrings in the corridors of power.

Only last month a tabloid furore was building against Rachel Reeves after accusations of hypocrisy concerning her having failed to apply for a licence from her local council before letting out her south London home. On the eve of Halloween the prime minister declared the matter closed having accepted an apology from the chancellor who had said she had not known a licence was required [Guardian].

Emails then emerged showing that the letting agent for the property had told her husband that a licence would be necessary [BBC]. 

One email also purported to indicate that the agent would apply for a licence on behalf of the client. Within a day the letting agent which rented out Chancellor Rachel Reeves' family home apologised for an "oversight" which led to a failure to obtain the correct licence.

Gareth Martin, owner of Harvey & Wheeler, said the company's previous property manager had offered to apply for a "selective" rental licence on behalf of their client - but this never happened as the manager resigned before the tenancy began.

The story would no doubt have led to louder calls for her resignation but for the breaking news that Prince Andrew was to be stripped of his Royal titles and be known henceforth as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor [Guardian]. He would also, rolling media coverage informed the public, be required to move out of Windsor and slum it on King Charles III's Sandringham Estate where he would reside with the monarch bearing the cost personally. The decision came after long running criticism of Andrew's close connections with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Given how long the episode had been burning, the timing of the decision to strip him of his title seemed somewhat suspicious.

Even if just coincidence, Rachel Reeves would surely have been relieved that the media spotlight had shifted from her dubious financial affairs to the former prince.

While the details of the Reeves' financial affairs concerning her flat may be explained away by an oversight or failure of communication, it is not the first time the chancellor's expenses and financial affairs have been under the spotlight.

In February 2025 the BBC News reported that Rachel Reeves had exaggerated her online CV and had been investigated over her use of expenses while working at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) [BBC]. The reactions from Reeves and her colleagues were that the BBC reports were exaggerated and inaccurate. Of her expenses Reeves said they had been "signed off in the proper way" and "no issues were ever raised" during her time at the bank. Meanwhile the then Science Secretary Peter Kyle told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the reporting was "inaccurate".

While Reeves has so far survived media scrutiny, others have been less fortunate.

In the summer the Deputy PM Angela Rayner was photographed holidaying in Brighton, vaping on an inflatable kayak on the southern coast near Hove. It then emerged she had bought a flat in the seaside town, her third property which resulted in her being dubbed "three pads Rayner" by the tabloid media [The Sun]. The tabloid media had their claws out and the vitriol and criticism was loud and vociferous. "The hypocrisy of buying a second home when you also have use of a third home — at a time when your own department is waving a stick at second-home owners — does somewhat leave the mouth hanging open," the Sun proclaimed.

Within weeks Angela Rayner was giving a resignation speech, having admitted she underpaid stamp duty. The resignation on the 22nd October came despite repeated messages of support from her colleagues and the prime minister. On the 1st of September Keir Starmer said he was "proud" of his deputy, just days after The Daily Telegraph reported that Rayner saved £40,000 in stamp duty by not paying the higher rate reserved for additional home purchases. By the 3rd of September Rayner contacted the HMRC and referred herself for investigation by Sir Laurie Magnus, the prime minister's ethics adviser. That same day, shortly before Starmer was due to appear at Prime Minister's Questions, Rayner released a statement admitting she should have paid the higher rate of stamp duty when purchasing the Hove flat. Nonetheless the prime minister continued to stand by his deputy. The following day he repeatedly refused to say if he would sack Rayner if the standards adviser concluded she broke the ministerial code [BBC].

The prevarications were moot, and the following day Rayner resigned.

Rayner's stepping down resulted in Starmer being forced to shuffle chairs and pick a new deputy. David Lammy was drawn closer to the PM and placed in position of deputy prime minister and Justice Secretary. Meanwhile he sacked a number of ministers from his cabinet and elevated others to more senior roles. Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary, was thrown out of the Cabinet and replaced with Douglas Alexander. The decision was treated with indignation by Murray who said he was "hugely disappointed" to be cut from the Cabinet. However it was apparently more than 'dissappointment'. A close friend told the Daily Record that Murray was "very angry and is still in the dark as to why he was sacked."

Gone too was Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, who was also unimpressed about being dismissed from her post.

However in a humiliating move for Keir Starmer she managed to place herself close to the inner circle after placing herself in the deputy leadership contest against Bridget Phillipson and winning [BBC].

Despite having secured a senior position Powell was not brought back into the Cabinet.

Political pundits have suggested that the PM might 'feel some unease about the outcome for a few different reasons' in that, according to Sky's Beth Rigby 'she has power and profile, but will remain an independent voice, free from collective cabinet responsibility [Sky News].

And so a little under three weeks after assuming her position as a political fly in the ointment, Keir Starmer was facing a wrath of stories plastered across many frontpages claiming that he might be facing a challenge to his own leadership.

Once again the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to answer awkward questions in PMQs and address reports that rivals in his Labour Party were plotting to replace him as leader. It all came just two weeks before a government budget announcement that could worsen his already dire poll ratings, three weeks after Lucy Powell secured her position as deputy leader, and 10 weeks since his previous deputy leader and deputy PM Angela Rayner had resigned.

Late on Tuesday 11th November, several media outlets quoted Starmer allies as saying his job might be under immediate threat and singled out Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, as a challenger whose "ambition" was being viewed with "particular suspicion."

Ahead of an awkward PMQs, Streeting was on the media rounds busily defending Starmer and denying any suggestion he was behind any plot to oust the prime minister. According to one Downing Street source quoted in the Daily Express, "there is a pattern of Keir's team briefing against his own people – they did it to Angela [Rayner], Lisa [Nandy], Lucy [Powell], now it's Wes's [Streeting] turn. A circular firing squad won't help the Government out of the hole we're in."

During a tense grilling on the BBC, Streeting defended the PM and denied he was behind a coup, and said people should 'calm down'

BBC Breakfast host Jon Kay launched his interrogation with a graphic description of the likely scenes inside Number 10. "It sounds like people inside Downing Street think you are a potential problem yourself because we've had this extraordinary briefing overnight to the BBC from people close to the Prime Minister who seem to think they're worried about some kind of leadership challenge in the next few weeks, and they name you as a potential threat. Wes Streeting, are you a faithful or are you a traitor?"

Streeting responded, likening the whole episode as being like a soap opera. "Someone has definitely been watching too much Celebrity Traitors in Downing Street. I think they should be watching Countryfile instead and calm down a bit. I am a Faithful, what you're seeing from a silly number 10 source overnight is probably the worst attack on the faithful since Joe Marler was banished in the final." 

Another person in the spotlight is Morgan McSweeney, whose official title is Downing Street Chief of Staff. Starmer has come under intense pressure from a wide range of ministers and MPs to sack his chief of staff after No 10 was accused of an extraordinary briefing operation against the health secretary, Wes Streeting [Guardian].

But there is also a name that has failed to be mentioned in all this, that of Starmer's Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, appointed by the PM on the 16th December 2024, succeeding Simon Case.

Case had been in the role for the six months after Labour won the general election last year and was involved in the transition between governments but left with some questions over his stepping down, though health reasons were cited [BBC] .

Just as depicted by Humphrey in the 'fictional' political sitcom Yes, Prime Minister, the role of the Cabinet Secretary involves advising the Prime Minister, supporting the government's decision-making processes, and heading the Home Civil Service.

However, it seems clear that Starmer is either not receiving very good advice, or simply ignoring it.

From issues concerning the integrity of his cabinet members, choices concerning roles and public statements on his team, as well as policy, Starmer's leadership has been a litany of confusion, procrastination and prevarication.

This is in addition to increasing rumours concerning Starmer's personal life, details of which have been mostly hidden from the public to date.

Labour won an election on the back of a failed and failing Tory administration seen as corrupt and inept. It came in on a promise of 'Change', a single word that was emblazoned on its manifesto. In that manifesto it also gave unrealistic promises it would not raise taxes, something it is widely believed Reeves will break in her late November Budget. The manifesto also fenced itself in with promises that it would 'make Brexit work' and that Labour would not seek to rejoin the EU, the Customs Union or the Single Market, even if this were the only way out of economic oblivion.

The UK has continued to face low growth throughout 2025. The latest figures, ahead of a budget which is likely to dampen public spending yet further paints a gloomy picture for 2026 [BBC]. The EU economy in comparison was projected to experience moderate growth in 2025, with real GDP expected to increase by 1.1% in the EU and 0.9% in the euro area as a whole. Moreover EU growth is expected to rise to 1.5% in 2026. Hardly a celebration, especially given the likes of China which has seen its growth level at around 4.8% in 2025. Meanwhile, the US economy expanded an annualised 3.8% in Q2 2025, much higher than 3.3% in the second estimate, and marking the strongest performance since Q3 2023.

Whichever way one cuts it, the UK's economic picture is bleak. And yet the government has boxed itself into one corner, with promises not to forge closer ties with the EU which would undoubtedly boost the economy [Numerous economic analyses by institutions like the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the Centre for European Reform (CER), and others suggest that rejoining the EU, or even just the single market, would boost the UK economy compared to its current post-Brexit trajectory. ] Yet, at the same time the treasury department is willing to break other promises not to raise taxes in order to keep the ailing ship of HMS Britannia afloat.

And amidst all this, one is witness to a political soap opera with denials, rumours and infighting abound. The comedy and farce of it all would be hysterically funny if it weren't so serious.

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