November 12, 2025, 10:39 p.mNovember 12, 2025, 10:41 p.m
Johann Wadephul (right) wants to continue to support Ukraine, but is also critical.Image: keystone
Despite the corruption scandal in Ukraine, Germany and European partners are continuing to support Kiev in its defense against the Russian war of aggression. It was made clear to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha “that a determined fight against corruption in Ukraine is needed so that support in the West can remain credible,” said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) to journalists on the sidelines of the foreign ministers’ meeting of the G7 countries of economically strong democracies in Canada.
He had previously met with the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and his colleagues from France and Italy, Jean-Noël Barrot and Antonio Tajani, with Sybiha on the sidelines of the G7 conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Wadephul said that continued support for Ukraine was reaffirmed. Ukraine and the country’s independent authorities are supported in the fight against corruption.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk to resign in light of the corruption scandal in the energy sector. Zelensky pledged his support to the anti-corruption bodies. The multi-million dollar bribery scandal is said to have involved not only payments in the energy sector, but also in the armaments sector, which is important for defense. The main suspect, Tymur Minditsch, a long-time business partner of Zelensky, evaded arrest by fleeing abroad.
Wadephul assumes a joint G7 final declaration
According to his own statements, Wadephul expects that at the G7 meeting in the southeastern Canadian province of Ontario there will be a joint final declaration from everyone – including the USA – that underlines the current stance towards Ukraine. “This group of G7 countries stands on Ukraine’s side. And we are reaffirming exactly what we have declared in the past and the position we have always taken up to now at this conference,” the minister told journalists.
According to Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, her country will impose additional sanctions against Russia. These were directed against people and companies involved in the development and use of the Russian drone program as well as against Russian liquefied natural gas companies. 100 ships from the so-called Russian shadow fleet designed to circumvent energy sanctions are also affected by the sanctions.
According to the American, a meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his G7 colleagues and Ukraine was about ways to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capability. The USA continues to work decisively with its partners to persuade Russia to engage in diplomacy, he wrote on Platform X. In addition to the USA, Germany and Canada, the G7 countries also include France, Italy, Japan and Great Britain. (sda/dpa)